I picked this up a while ago. Part of a jewelry sorting day at Salvation. It's 11" long and has some heft to it. You'd definitely know you were wearing it. I think it's from India but I'm not sure what the materials are. It feels like a stone of some kind and cool to the touch. Not at all like plastic. It just has a simple hook and ring clasp. I like the carved elephants. The three bottom tiers took forever to untangle so they would lay right. Not perfect but much better. It's strung on heavy cord and the spacers are some kind of gold and silver metal. -Mike-

I am wondering about age and type of plastic. This is post 2 of 2, here I´m showing closeups of the beads. More info is found in my other post today.

The larger beads that I show here are made of some sort of very dense plastic. They are cold to the touch and very even and smooth. The color is "yellowwhiteish". This necklace doesn´t feel new but ofcourse it could have been restrung or altered somehow. The claw-clasp isn´t old ofcouse but the ring that´s used to close with is bigger than I´m used to and to me it looks older than the clasp. The style and lenght of the necklace makes me think it could be from the 1920's, but what type of plastic could it be then if this isn´t bakelite? I can´t work this out. I am wondering about age and type of plastic. If you have the time I´d love some ideas on this. Guesses are also welcome.

I know for sure this is plastic of some sort, not organic! I know it looks like bone or toth or something like that but it´s not.

I want your opinion on this. I will show closeup-photos in the next post. I am wondering about age and type of plastic. If you have the time I´d love some ideas on this. Guesses are also welcome.

This necklace is heavy, it weighs 136 grams.
It´s 59 cm in length when closed, thats about 23.22 inches.
The largest bead is 3 cm (1.18 inches) long.

The larger beads are made of some sort of very dense plastic. They are cold to the touch and very even and smooth. The color is "yellowwhiteish". They are more yellow in real Life than in the photos, but still also whitish. The small beads inbetween and at the ends close to the clasp is made of glass. I have tested the bigger beads with a metall cream polish wich is very similar to simicrome (I have compared them online but haven´t been able to get hold of Simicrome here yet and I feel reluctant in ordering from abroad just because I´m not used to it). They didn´t pass that test. When I put them in hot water there is a strong cemical smell, maybe of formaldehyd but who knows for sure what that smells like, Miss Marple? And maybe these beads aren´t yellow enough to be bakelite anyway?

This necklace doesn´t feel new but ofcourse it could have been restrung or altered somehow. The claw-clasp isn´t old ofcouse but the ring that´s used to close with is bigger than I´m used to and to me it looks older than the clasp. The style and lenght of the necklace makes me think it could be from the 1920's, but what type of plastic could it be then if this isn´t bakelite? I can´t work this out. The only thing I know for sure is that this isn´t of organic material. Any ideas are welcome!

These guys are not in the best vintage shape, but I found them at an estate sale a couple of weeks ago for a couple of bucks and decided to get them anyways. I really like the colors and some of the details.

Thanks to everyone that took a guess...here is a look at the back of the one on the right, which is the 'original' and right answer.
The pin runs across the middle of the brooch and the reproduction has the pin set higher up....otherwise there is not a lot of difference and I wish I still had a photo of the fake back. Thanks for your comments - very interesting.

I purchased this from someone in France. She told me that it was new old stock and, I believe, she told me that it was a new pin. I did not pay a fortune for it, so either way I am OK. Just want to see if anyone can verify or tell me more about this lucite (???) pin?

These are from my little tiny pins collection... They are all about the size of a quarter... I pick these up wherever I see them at a good price. They all have C clasp. But I think the last one is the oldest.

Here is why:
Old c clasps on brooches generally indicate that piece is before the 1900's and the longer the pin extends beyond the brooch, the older it's liable to be dating to the mid 1800's.

I have read this on several Jewelry ID websites and it's in one of my jewelry reference books. I tend to believe it's correct... Your thoughts?

I purchased this pretty rhinestone necklace at a yard sale.Someone had wrapped a piece of masking tape around it and had written the price on it,and also had written "very old" on it.I did some research,but couldn't find this exact rhinestone pattern.Any help would be appreciated.Thanks for all of your help!

I recently purchased a box of antique jewelry at an estate sale.This necklace was in the mix.The beautiful stones caught my eye,as well as the weightIt is heavy! .It measures 17" long.I did some research,and found that it could be Carnelian or Chalcedony stones.Am I correct? If not,could someone please help identify? Thanks for all of your help!

My cashier friend at Salvation knows I like dragonflies. "Oh I have something to show you" she said. Out came this little wire dragonfly pin. It's really interesting and made from bits of everything. It's basically wire with thin filigree metal wings which used to be bright gold but most of it has worn away. It sits on six little wire legs with tiny barbed feet. The body is composed of a turquoise bead for the head, a small pink rhinestone joins the wings, and three cylinders of what looks like cork threaded on the wire form the abdomen. It's about 3" long and 2" across the wings. A very crafty and unique little piece ! -Mike-

I found this necklace in a shrub in a public garden i designed and planted many years ago. i found this along w/ those cool carved stone rings. The jade bead in this piece is pretty nice. i don't know much at all about jewelry [although i made silver/gold jewelry for tourists in Ogunquit, Maine when i was 19]. i'm interested in any info about this piece - particularly the jade bead.

The other day i found a jewelry box stuffed in a shrub in a public garden i designed a long time ago. inside it was a bunch of silver jewelry and these stone rings. they are pretty cool, but i don't know much about jewelry. any info appreciated.

Hello I thought I would try and get some info on this item by posting this bracelet , and hope someone is able to tell me more , it looks very old,seeking help to find age as I think it's Victorian
Thanks

Bought it in the shoe box of vintage jewelry on estate auction some time ago, could not find any information in the internet, very curious about this necklace. It is green glass I believe. I love its look and feel

I'm not sure if this is part of something or a stand alone piece. It doesn't look as though it has broken off of anything or was ever a brooch or pendant, although it would be kind of heavy. The bottom is such that the piece does not stand on it's own. I've looked and looked but cannot find anything like it to compare it to. If you have any idea where this item came from or where I can research it's history, please help. Thanks so much!

The pins Gustave Sherman made in 1967 to commemorate the Canada Centennial Celebrations, is a particular favourite for Sherman Jewellery collectors. I loved the celebrations that were going on in Canada, especially the patriotic Centennial train that was rolling through Canada. This pin comes in some beautiful colors. Canadians were encouraged to engage in Centennial projects to celebrate the anniversary. The projects ranged from special one-time events to local improvement projects, such as the construction of municipal arenas and parks. The Centennial Flame was also added to Parliament Hill. A Centennial Train traversed the country and school children across the country were able to see exhibits raising their consciousness as to Canadian history and nationalism and enlivening their enthusiasm to visit Expo. Children born in 1967 were declared Centennial babies.

My father has been very down on his health these days, and currently is dying with not much to be hoped for. The last 6 months have been very difficult for me, since my father was not as able to live alone, and lost money on places that turned out to be not suitable for his state of health. The hospital staff continually assessed him incorrectly. Right now he has a had a massive stroke and large blood clot in his brain so his days are numbered to say the least. He has been taken off life support in his hospital room. I am posting this item for a while, but be patient as I am not able to come on to CW much at this trying time.

Victorian jewelry used swallow motif to signify faithfully returning home/ or just home. Supposedly the swallow was one of the first birds to land on deck when a ship was close to land, not surprisingly, aside from a popular motif for jewelry it was also a favorite tattoo for sailors!

I love this little guy. So intricate and pretty. It has a patent number which I can't make out.

Hello I thought I would post this item in the hope someone can tell me anything about it , I have had it a few years and have cleaned it up but no idea what it's made from or how old it is, think it looks Scottish but not sure.
Thanks

Hello I thought I would post this lovely bangle that I have cleaned up , I am not sure of how old it is but from the amount of grime that came off ,I think it's very old,any help with info on it would be helpful
Thanks

Hello this necklace belonged to the grandmother of my good friend she wasn't keen on it and gave it to me I'm guessing it could have been made anytime from 1920s - 1950s?. A jeweller friend says it's glass she thinks its murano glass the beads look like they're made in 2 halves and put together. The colours are unusual. I have often wondered about these beads and their slightly odd patterns are they random or meant to be like that?

I have had this for many years and always thought it was glass until I saw some recent post (Dr Fluffy) the clasp looks older and it is on a silver or silver looking chain and it is pretty much colorless. Any thoughts on this one? Thanks!!

Spring will come – eventually, I hope, and when it does arrive I will great spring with a bit of colour. Oh well, maybe not because I don’t really like pink.

I got these earrings at a Christmas Bazaar for 50 cents Canadian (this means they were almost free)! One of my daughters went a little while ago to a birthday party with a 1920’s theme. I saw the pictures and loved it! Too bad nobody invites their friends’ mothers to these parties. If anyone would have a 1960ish party, the earrings might just fit.

Another purchase from the estate sale. I think I paid $2 for this one. I am trying to figure out what the banner says. I can make out France. The first part looks like Sude to me, but nothing comes up with that. I also tried Su Du France... No luck there either... I am assuming it's some sort of military pin, but don't know much beyond that. Your thoughts?

3rd purchase from the estate sale. I love this piece. The shape of the glass definitely reminds me of the art deco era. The rondels add a bit more glamour to it too... This one is also strung by a silver chain string.

Another piece from Friday's estate sale. This piece is sooo pretty, unfortunately once I got it home, I saw a few little chips, but it is still gorgeous. The other thing I like about it is that it's strung by a thin silver tone chain. Love it.

Due to my Valentines Day accident, I had to drive 20 minutes north on Friday to see the insurance estimator... As I was getting close, I decided to stop by an estate sale. Wow, there were some beautiful pieces. The owner had been a jewelry designer and she had amazing pieces. Of course by the time I got there, apparently the best pieces were sold, but I was still able to get around 20 or so. This is one the pieces that I picked up. I think I paid $3.50 for it.
Peasejean recently posted a very pretty necklace in this style. I believe it turned out to be Murano glass. I am wondering if this is also Murano.

Hello I am wondering if anyone has any idea what this strange necklace is made out of, it feels and sounds like stone , but not as cold , I've never come across this substance before so any helps good.
Thanks

Hello I thought I would post this lovely pendant that I thought was lucite or something but have just checked and it seems to be Bakelite acc to simichrome result, I didn't even realise it was reverse painted and thought it had dried flowers inside till looking with a loop, hope someone can tell me more about it
Thanks

Disclaimer: I am not a jewelry collector, just someone who's been selling some family stuff on Ebay.
The necklace that I'm questioning is brass with blue celluloid flowers.
Length: 17"
Diameter of flowers: 3/4 inch

It was in my mother's jewelry box. She was born in 1926, so it would have belonged to one of her female relatives. Unfortunately, she is no longer alive, so I can't ask her.

I was randomly Googling to try to find some information about the necklace when I found some early Miriam Haskell jewelry that had the same type of flower motif and style of wire mount. I read a bit more.

Why it probably isn't Haskell:
-- It isn't particularly ornate or substantial
-- It has a spring catch, but with a thumb tab. http://idragonrider.com/auctions/Haskell/ relates that there is debate about the thumb tab.

Why it might be Haskell:

The celluloid flowers are wired into the backs. According to the website Very Vintage:
Very early Haskell pieces had as backs metal plates that were pierced with small round holes at regular intervals (NOT mesh). Beads and pearls were then wired by hand directly on to this base. This back was then left uncovered, giving the piece an ''unfinished'' look. By the 1930''s the back was being covered by a flat metal plate, of which Gordon and Pamfiloff say ''This metal plate is a key identifier for pre-1943 Haskell jewelry" (page 44).http://www.veryvintage.com/authenticating-miriam-haskell-pieces?chapter=0

Also if it dates to the 1920s could it's absence of ornamentation mean that it was created by Haskell before her partnership with Hess?

I needed help with this funny necklace as I didn't know the age of this or origin. I guessed 50's - 70's and Valentino97 later gave such a good explanation to this 'happy and carefree' necklace, read below.

It´s plastic light weight, about 37 grams, it´s a long necklace 59 cm when closed. There are flat beads in stacks and at the end of the stacks there are beads in the shape of flowers. The necklace is strung on a cottonthread.

Hi...I have 3 x brooches which appear to be silver, each one is different. They have pins on the back, are over 4cms in height and are shaped like shields. Can somebody please help me identify them? Thank you and regards, Gail

This is a necklace I got at a thrift shop. I believe it is costume jewerly because it looks cheaply made. There are purple/white/grey pieces glued onto it. Also I think it is a hook and extender clasp which is used in costume jewerly. This necklace measures about 16 1/2 inches long.

This pin was given to me by my uncles late mother, she collected alot of unusual jewelery. It has small lines on it, looks pressed. It measures about 5cm long and 1 1/2cm tall. Its maybe made out of gold or copper. Im guessing it is at least 25-30 years old since that's when the mother passed. Please help!! Thankyou!! :)

I found these today at the thrift store and I don't know what the beads are made of it seems like they are made from something natural because they are not uniform in size they all have a spot on them maybe some kind of bean or plastic made to look like a bean?

SOLVED by me they are acai beads are from the amazon... the bead is the inedible nut from the center of the berry

I drink acai berry juice all the time (it is considered a super food full of antioxidants) so this is very cool to find this!

Hello fellow collectors! I found these lovely beads today at the thrift store and I need some help as to possible age or possible maker. They are very heavy and feel like glass part of the clamp is broke so it won't stay hooked. I tried to get the clasp clean but the gunk will not come off I think there is some markings on it does anybody else see this or have any comments? Thank you!
Solved by kyratango!! Carved peking glass beads 1920s

So these are two more of the pieces I bought a couple of days ago. I like unusual design and colors, so passed up the ordinary things I was offered in order to take some of the more interesting stuff, like these two necklaces. The first one is 50" long! Small orange faceted beads, very light, a pretty clasp, no markings, probably contemporary, still it goes to show that something even very inexpensive can be quite striking, and a pretty thing to wear, say in the summer with a tropical dress and sandals that same or similar bright color.

The second is the more intriguing necklace. I can't quite place it in time. It has a very pretty drop clasp with a leaf in the center, no hallmarks. The beads are shaped like aviator lenses, golden yellow with amber streaks, every third stack, there is a golden coral-shaped spacer. The beads, the chain, the style, suggest perhaps department store fashion jewelry, but what material and what era? 70s plastic, 60s lucite? It gives off a retro vibe, certainly. I think a very pretty necklace to wear with the right dress.

So I bought this pretty little costume jewelry brooch yesterday, along with some other pieces, and when I examined it, saw that it had a strange setup on the back. A regular clasp over another clasp. I opened the top clasp and opened the second clasp, and there seems to be a tiny sponge inside. Didn't touch or smell the sponge because I'm paranoid that way. Can anybody tell me what the deal is with this brooch? Thanks for looking.

SOLVED: aghcollect identified this as a perfume brooch, and after researching apparently these are called vinaigrettes, after the old style Victorian vinaigrettes. I can't find another like mine anywhere, but the ID makes perfect sense, as the clasp holding the sponge has openings on the sides which would allow the fragrance to waft out.

I hate the days when I come home empty handed, but I always have something lying around I haven't posted. I know not everyday can yield the find of the century. Like the guy in Phoenix I was reading about today that found the rare 1959 Jaeger-LeCoultre Deep Sea Alarm watch for$ 5.99 at GW's. He then turned around and sold it to a San Francisco collector for $35,000.00. Plus he got a $4000.00 Omega Speedster to close the deal and the LeCoultre didn't even have a band !
Oh well......now for my prize. I got these from my usual place, Salvation Army of course. Interesting jade green and caramel colored clamper bracelets. They seem to be older as the hinges are tarnished and the Hong Kong mark is barely legible. They are either lucite or some kind of plastic marbled to look like carved stone. They're in pretty good shape too the hinge springs are still nice and tight with no damage or chips. I've seen prices on etsy and rubylane ranging from 20 to 100 dollars so maybe not such a bad score after all. -Mike-

Since it seems the jewelry people are about, thought I would post these pretties. As near as I can recall, got them in a yard sale about 20, 30 years ago. No markings. The first one, the gilt is flaking off, unfortunately. The second one, there are a few stones missing. The third, one stone is missing. One and three are AB, so post mid-50s. I've researched them off and on over the years and can't find any matches. I've seen the pink one in different colors multiple times but either misidentified as Weiss, or unidentified. Any information, ideas, guesses, suggestions, tips, recipes, lol, welcome. Hope you enjoy looking at these, I know I do!

This is a bone on brass bangle bracelet, most probably made in India.
I found it in a yard sale back in the summer and never really took a good look at it till this week and it's a very nice piece, according to my standards that is.

Hello I have this necklace which is glass and some other kind of Bakelite type plastics I think , I think it's vintage but having not seen one before I am hoping someone can help with more info about it.
Thanks

Hello I thought I would post this lovely bracelet in the hope someone may have a idea or know more about it as I have not seen another like it in the few years I've had it, I thought maybe it could be murano but not sure and think milk glass might be more a English thing,the silver spacers are very tarnished when viewed with a loop making me think this is at least vintage,
Thanks

For anyone familiar with Oscar de la Renta. This necklace reads Oscar, however I'm stumped on this one. I've seen a similar marking on some of his pieces. I'm really curious if this is a knock off or the real thing? It's quite a heavy piece.

Hello, I have a question about this brass buckle bracelet. I'm not sure what to make of it. The writing on it is EUR UREA 1915 E17 RICORDO GUERRA. At first I thought it may be Mexican but may actually be Italian? Any ideas?

I'm in need of some info on this necklace. The reddish beads and peach color pendant are a plastic/celluloid. It tests negative for bakelite. The lobster clasp is the only piece that seems newer, original may have been replaced? Would anyone have any ideas on age or any info?

Had to have this 2.5"x 2.75" wood and Lucite brooch. I thought it would look great on my newest denim jacket w/the 1950's-60's acetate scarf.

Similar home hobby and novelty pins can be found in "Wooden Jewelry & Novelties" (a Schiffer book for Collectors) by Mary Jo Izard. Horses, Scotty dogs and birds were very popular motifs. I am very happy to have this. The scarf is a 26" square - "head scarf" to wear over curlers, or keep the hair-do perfect while driving a convertible, the rain away....etc. These square scarves are not as easy to wear as the longer rectangle. I love it - the paisley design and colors are very nice and hem is handrolled. No signature. Tally Ho!!

Try saying that three times... This little pretty brooch was purchased a couple of years ago at a consignment store. Since it's not marked, I am not sure about the age, but really liked the setting and of course the clasp.

This is one of the first pieces of vintage jewelry that I purchased a while ago. I love the trombone clasp and the fact that it's made in France. I don't have a lot of French made pieces. I also really like the design and although it's not in a great shape, it's still beautiful. I have to say, I still haven't seen another one like it. So please feel free to add comments.

VINTAGE LIZ PALACIOS BLUE FLOWER/BLOOM NECKLACE
WITH BLUE SWAROVSKI CRYSTALS .
TALK ABOUT SPARKLE! THIS IS BEAUTIFUL MY PICTURES DON'T DUE IT JUSTICE!
I HAVE ANOTHER ONE BY HER WITH RED STONES I WILL POST LATER.

I received this item through an estate. I have been researching but am very confused. This piece is signed Trifari with Sterling on the bottom side of one wing and design 137200 on the other wing. The research I have done says the jelly belly should be clear with red eyes. I cannot find anything on a clear with pink tint and green eyes. Any help on this would be greatly appreciated as I am not educated in vintage jewelry.

So probably all of us respond to a certain color more than other colors. In my case, it's yellow-green, or green-yellow. I love all colors but when I see that particular variety of green, it pleases me. Maybe it has to do with crayons! Anyway, here are three necklaces I recently purchased at different times, then as I was rooting around the other day realized they had some similarities, so thought I would post them. Plastic, very likely, contemporary, not special, just appealing, I think. I hope you enjoy looking at them.

NO!
Not old, nor pricy!
A cheat from kyratango ;-)
It is a very cheap modern chinese costume brooch!
Bought it because of price and free shipping...
Had it for months till I bought a magical silvering liquid!!!
Here are the before/after pics, the too bling stones were blackened with a sharpie :-)

Can anyone give me any information about this piece? Its emerald green and ruby red stones (6 missing) Needs some TLC. Don't know where it is from. Just know it's old. Seems to be a choker. Quite small. It has a stamp on it that says Czechoslovakia.
Thanks!
My email is kadolce2@yahoo.com

Hello I thought I would show this interesting brooch that I like a lot but have yet to find out more about , I think it looks antique but not sure,hope someone knows and can tell me more about it,
Thanks

Sky blue's the limit! A very pretty thermo plastic clamper - 1.25" wide. It was molded in one piece, rolled around the metal base and framed w/thin silver rods. I don't normally buy this color but I should because it's a very good color on me.

To many, the horseshoe is a symbol of good luck and protection. It has become a very superstitious symbol dating very far back to a blacksmith and his dealings with the devil. The story goes that the devil asked the blacksmith attach horseshoes to his hooved feet. The blacksmith did as he was told, nailing the horseshoes to the feet. However, it caused the devil a lot of pain and the blacksmith would only remove them if the devil promised never to enter a home where there was a horseshoe hanging.Today, everyone is wearing a horseshoe to protect them from evil and negative energy.

This is one of my favorite pins... Although it's not marked, I do believe it's rolled gold.

I love the vibrant color of center glass piece of this pin. It's a pretty purple which is a bit hard to photograph. The hand painted frame is very feminine and dainty which is an interesting contrast to the large deco style glass piece. As you can see in the second picture it has a C clasp. Based on all the features, I am thinking somewhere between art nouveau and art deco. Or it can be a revival piece all together.

Tomorrow is Fat Tuesday, ladies, time to get your drink on and your dance on, and catch your Mardi Gras beads! If you got em, flaunt em -- your beads, your beads! Show your beads on CW! Some of these are round, some are faceted, the ones on top are advertisements, don't like those so much, but they add a little interest when they're piled up. These are all vintage beads. I hope you enjoy looking at them. :)

Hello I thought I would post this brooch in the hope someone can tell me more about it as I like it a lot but have no idea how old or where it's from, I guess the design means something but nut sure,
Thanks

Hendrick's Field Sebring Florida Jewelry. This was my mother's pin. It was most likely a gift from one of the soldiers from Hendrick's Field. She lived and worked near the field during WW II. I have only seen this one other time with many of the pieces missing.

I discovered recently that gilded bronze brooch. It is decorated with real pearl and bear the seal of the buckle. A print letters "G L" and some other symbol which can not I read.I will be very happy to know something more about this brooch for her producer and adults ???

Hello I am posting this pearl bracelet that I think is real and am hoping someone who knows more about pearls , can tell me what they think about this item and how old and what kind of pearls they are, as I am not sure yet. Thanks

This is a very, very special piece of jewelry. My mother was a young girl during WWII. She loved her uncle J.D. very much. He was stationed at Pearl Harbor when it was bombed by the Japanese on December 7, 1941. Can you imagine how giddy and thrilled she was when her uncle sent her this heart necklace all the way from Hawaii to Florida? She wore the necklace everywhere and kept it safe from harm for the rest of her life. J.D. made it through the war safely despite a nasty scar on his abdomen where he was stabbed by a Japanese soldier somewhere in the Pacific. The heart is probably not very valuable, but it is the most priceless and precious item that I will ever own. The vibrant, smiling young girl in the photo made certain that she wore her special gift for the unsuspecting photographer to capture for eternity. Now, I am the keeper and protector of this special item that truly evokes the meaning and the essence of life, love, bravery and honor.
Aloha!

Male in photo close up is J.D. J. D. is the man in the center of the war photo.

Sometimes I think my family was genetically related to magpies: anything colorful and/or shiny, they would pick it up and bring it home. The first three photos are probably gumball machine rings, dropped and saved over time in an old baby food jar. The last photo is stuff that came out of that lucite toy coffee pot, sitting on a window sill for Lord knows how many years. There are other rings and other little things, but these are sort of my shiny colorful favorites. Hope you enjoy looking at them.

This color of bakelite is called cream corn and was white originally. I love these 1"x3/8" clips from the 40's or 50's. I have 16 hoop style bakelite earrings and 10 button style. Fun, simple, cheap to collect. It's fun when you realize they match a bracelet! Yes this pair is a very close match to one of my carved bangles....

I just bought this set and love it, love it! Taupe and soft yellow. I think this originally was a light pink w/white. I'm guessing 60's or 70's. Not a primo collector color, but added with my other carved bangles -works!

I'm starting to collect insect and reptile costume jewelry. The dragonflies are my favorite and I've posted a couple of those pins, but I also have a few lady bug pieces. The only marked piece in this group is the pendant and it has the Swarovski swan mark on the pendant and chain. The large brooch has no mark but is beautiful in shiny red and black enamel with rhinestone accents on a bright gold tone body. The petite little unmarked bracelet alternates faux pearls with tiny lady bugs.This one is probably for a child as it is so small. -Mike-

I found this rather large costume Brooch just in time for Valentine's Day. It seems that it was made of brass. It also has a little heart locket, flowers, angels.... There is no mark at all and I have no idea at all what it is. Any ideas would be appreciated.

I apologize for my late reaction, but I appreciated how much important this is for you!I am from another part of the world and we have different traditions and customs of yours. We are Orthodox Christians today is St. Trifon.In fact today is the day of wine!With us this celebration of wine means the birth of spring, this is a legacy of the Dionysian festivals of wine!To us St. Trifon is the Christian version of Dionysus.Actually come to think of wine and love go hand in hand! :)

this is a piece that belonged to my grandmother. I always admired it's beauty. I have held on to the broken pieces. they broke off at the solder. Any suggestions as to where I can send it for repair? I live in the FL Keys and don't trust the jewelers down here.
The signature on the back is Eisenberg Original

This is lovely,it is quite a heavy necklace with a lot of glass beads.
The centre piece is lovely it has gold trailed on it and the bead has bubbles.I don't really know much about jewellery,I just thought it was different and has some age to it.The chain fastener has a tiny glass bead on the end too.
Hope you like it and hope somebody has an idea about it :) the dark beads are very dark green .

Hello I thought I would post a pic of this lovely ring which I have given a bit of a clean , when found it was all black like the inside parts of the ring still are. Would like to find out more about it.
Thanks

I came a cross these cute little earrings about a week ago. Gave me spring fever! I love the detail on them but was intrigued by the mark in the back. I'm also not sure if they are sterling or not. Would appreciate any help.

I believe that this small 2" plane is made from celluloid. I t is a necklace and it celebrates Charles Lindbergh's transatlantic Flight from New York to Paris. I could use help on identifying the manufacturer.

Recently I discovered this interesting Art Nouveau pendant local flea market. I do not understand many of the stones and do not know this in the middle stone is it or glass. I will be grateful if someone could tell me, as far as can be seen in pictures!

I have a love and fascination for bar pins. I am typically cruising ebay for such pins. I found this one about a year ago. There was a lot of interest on it with many bidders. I typically have a limit and this is one time that I went over my limit :) There is something very special about this one. This little guy is about 2 inches and has a nice weight to it. It is not marked. With all the pretty bugs and insects on Collector's Weekly, I thought you might like to see this one too...

A less recent purchase this set came in a Prouds case.
Prouds are a large jewelry chain here in Australia, established in 1903 in Sydney by William Proud and now with 240 stores country wide.

It's a nicely made piece of costume jewelry but one problem I have is the earrings. They are both identical, not a pair, so the dangles would not dangle right! Maybe they are not originally from the set.

There are no markings on any pieces, The earrings are clip, the necklace fasten with a foldover clip thingy. I'm waiting to hear the right term thanks.

I am as likely to wear this as any of our male jewelry collectors are.....

The first is a very light weight gilt chain necklace with what I think is real mother of pearl (but could be plastic) flower and leaf motifs. A matching pair of earrings came with it. Cheap and pretty!

The woven faux pearl necklace is pretty neat. Cheap again, but nicely made with it's weaving and swags.

I have to apologise to jewelry lovers. I really have very little idea about the subject and my descriptions are probably getting huh? responses.
Look at the pictures! (they don't show much either......sorry).

Another little odd and end that I picked up at some point. A miniature violin pin with it's own little case. There are even four little strings. It has a tie tack fastener on the back instead of typical pin and clasp. It may have had a bow as well or not. I've seen them both ways. The world's smallest violin for the next time you feel" not" so sorry for someone...lol. -Mike-

Not too much to show for today. Jewelry donations at Salvation this morning were mostly run of the mill everyday items. This little 1 1/2" brooch/pendant was in a box all by itself. Not a mark to be found but the stones looked nice imitating aquamarines and diamonds. It has a small loop for a chain and is extremely light weight. That might explain why the pin and clasp were bent almost flat. A few careful tweaks with the needle nose pliers brought them back into shape. -Mike-

I got these beads a while ago... They are about 1.5 inches each... I am thinking they are glass, but not 100% certain. The second picture is the infamous DRFLUFFY.... His eyes are basically the same color as the beads... So, I thought I should show him off.

Update: Kyra identified these beads for me... They are beads from Mandarin Court necklaces. Considering I lived in Asia for 5 years, I am shocked I had never heard of these necklaces before. Wow.

These 4 stickpins are from my grandparents' estate. I am not sure what they were used for and would like to find out. The pin is very long, about 3 - 4 inches. Tie clip? Scarf holder? I would like to know how it was worn and when they were popular. Thank you.

This is broken. There are two strings, it may have been a necklace originally but now one them is bracelet size. This has always been my favorite. It is shiny and the stones look like great big diamonds, but are crystal. Again, I am interested in seeing what it may have looked like in its original form and how old it is--what time period was it popular? I think it was my grandmother's which means it was purchased before 1912.

I believe this is my grandmother's from sometime before 1912 when she married. It is possible it was my mother's from the 1930's. It is made of metal but not sterling silver. I am interested in knowing the style and time period it might be from.

I found this bracelet on the “junk” side of the display case in a local charity shop. I liked the design and I always like a good mystery, so I bought it. It has been a challenge so far and I am hoping that some of my more knowledgeable friends here on CW can point me in the right direction.

I am, of course, only guessing but I think the bracelet is rather old. What I mean by that, I think it is not recent vintage. It also looks hand –made to me. When one looks closely, one can see where the individual pieces are soldered together.

I am not sure what the material is. It could be silver. It cleaned up like it was but I cannot test it myself.

The mark is unusual: letters N and O with an umlaut. There is also a second mark but it is very difficult to make out what is. Sometimes it looks almost like the head of a woman.

The O with an umlaut could point to a variety of countries: the first one that comes to my mind, of course, is German but are also Swedish, Icelandic, Finnish, Hungarian, Turkish, and others.

I recently purchased this piece since I've never seen anything like it. It seems like the front of a necklace perhaps, but did not come with any chain.
It seems to have age, though how much I can't tell.
I believe it's brass, good heavy weight.
The front in each oval seems to either be a resin material or glass? Sort of multi color and the biggest has something else, amber color like but certainly not amber.
Was wondering if anyone may know a little more about the piece!

So I picked this up yesterday for uber cheap assuming it is a fake. I did a little research and I know there was a brief time in the 50's or 60's when Chanel did have a mark that just said CHANEL but I haven't seen an example. The chain may also be a fake but the mark seems to say Tiffany&Co. but I am not able to see %100 clearly it is pretty small but may also be a fake. Just wanted to see if anyone else had any thoughts. Thanks! :)

A couple of years ago, I purchased a pink lot from ebay. The reason I bought the lot was a very pretty necklace that reminded me of early Miriam Haskell... Turned out the "Miriam Haskell" look alike was made in Japan, but this little pretty thing surprised me. I just looked around in ebay for this type of glass and I believe it's called venetian.
Thanks for looking...

So sometimes I set things aside as not worth much, but I don't get rid of them. I think a secret mechanism goes off in my brain that stops me until I actually have the time to look more closely and thoughtfully at these things. In the case of these two sets of earrings, I've had them for about two years now, ran across them as I was sorting through some jewelry pieces, was getting ready to dispose of them, and in the process took a closer look. As to the silver ones, I had thought they were just cheap plastic silvertone earrings. But they were tarnished and as I polished them with my silver cleaning cloth noticed that they were well constructed, and the shape was interesting. Also the silvering reminded me of the silver inside old Christmas ornaments. So I'm thinking these are very nice art glass earrings. As to the green and white earrings, these I initially figured were just plastic beads. The clear beads looked dingy, too, and as I was wondering how I might clean them, I realized that the dinginess appeared to be oxidation, like the silver oxidizes inside old Christmas ornaments. So I tapped the beads with my nail and they clinked like glass. I looked at the top between the beads and saw that they were strung on silk cord. Doing a little googling I am informed that these are called fringe earrings. Most of the ones I saw are Native American pieces, I don't think these are that kind, colors aren't right. As I thought about it, these reminded me of the fringe on old lamp shades. Specifically the bugle beads recall the flapper era. Don't know about those hooks though, too contemporary, maybe? Anyway, so two sets of silvered glass earrings, who knew?

Any further information, thoughts, ideas, opinions, on these, please do share. And thanks for looking!

So this is a bit of a dazzler, I think. 2 1/4". Pearlized cream and brown enamel on the outer ribbon, pearlized green enamel leaves, a brown floral centerpiece which feels like glass, and then the crystals which are AB I gotta tell ya look very high quality to me, maybe Swarovski? The only damage I could find on this was the piece needs cleaning and the cords are the tiniest bit soiled and worn, but that's a minor issue in view of the spectacular pendant. No hallmarks, possibly because this is hand-crafted? Many of the jewelry collectors on here like enamel, thought I would share this with them. Thanks for looking!

I am a fan of Juliana pieces, and from time to time I buy a piece here and there. I bought this set a couple of years ago... It has the classic five link setting and it's an almost exact clear version of my green set (see below post). I am going to try to wear this piece sometime this year :)

I am going thru my stick pin obsession again. Here are 4 more beauties that recently joined my collection. I love all three.
Picture 2: Red Glass. I love the color and the frame which looks like a transition from nouveau to deco.
Picture 3: Agate. The frame might have been rolled gold.
Picture 4: Not very sure... Perhaps some type of purple glass.

So is this totally groovy or what? I love color and I love the 60s, this necklace couldn't be more perfect for me. I thought when I bought it that the loops were plastic, but looking at them in preparing to post this thread I realized that they were glass. They have a pearlized shimmery quality which you can see a little in the picture, which would go perfectly with the frosted pink lipsticks and eyshadows girls wore back then. No hallmarks, any suggestions on how to go about researching this lovely little bit of costume jewelry would be welcome. Thanks for looking!

This pretty brooch is marked Czechoslovakia... And:
Come Visit Me, Inspired Insanity
So, I am not familiar with this sentence... But when I google it, interesting things pop up. Is this a part of pop culture that I don't know about? Would love to learn more.

The brooch is very pretty and in a good shape. It has a C clasp and again the daunting engraving. Purchased it from ebay recently.

Hello I am wondering how old these earrings are , I have started to clean them and they seem to be brass under all that grime, it's taken ages to get 1 looking a bit clean,and hope someone can tell me more about them please.
Thanks

I absolutely love this bracelet set and when I received it as a gift a couple of years ago, I wore it often. I love everything about this bracelet, the color, shape and variation of the beads, the weight, the big framed rhinestones and the chain. The giver of this present collects and sells vintage jewelry. She attributed this piece to Schiaparelli. Although it's not signed and I have not been able to confirm it.

Found this at my favorite Charity shop... I am always bringing donations and I never leave empty handed. This one was $4. I like the pearl effect and color, which was very difficult for me to capture. And it's a bit tight for my wrists (I won't torture your eyes with that picture). But at the end of the day, I think it's very pretty and I like it.

This cute little charm bracelet is missing Doc... DrFluffy is looking for Doc... The charms are marked AA1 (I believe). This was a part of my big lot purchase and I never found Doc in the boxes. I have been looking on line for a similar Doc and haven't been able to find one yet. So, I may just use the charms individually as pendants :)

Hello I thought I would try and see if anyone can help with info on this bangle which looks like Bakelite and has a very strong smell, but does not test as Bakelite , I don't think it's lucite and am wondering which of the early plastics it could be ?? Any help would be great.

Beautiful wide Cloisonné bangle. I got this from a charity store. I like the feel of it and the construction looks old to me. And of course I love the colors too. There was a recent post on Rubylane (similar, but not the same colors) that identified it from the 50s...

So this is one of the brooches I picked up at the yard sale, this was marked with a fish symbol inside a crown, the hallmark for Fish Enterprises UK & Crown Jewelry US. They made enamel jewelry, this is an example of their work. My understanding is their pieces are 22K gold-plated; the pieces I've seen are nicely done and well constructed. Unfortunately this delicate little butterfly was pretty battered when I dug him out of a plastic bag, one antenna bent all the way back (I gently twisted it back up), and the enamel missing from the front end of the wing where it meets the body. Oddly, this was in the same batch as the Morpho butterfly wing earrings, so it was my fate to carry home a handful of these beautiful creatures that day. Thanks for looking.

Hello I thought I would post this necklace in the hope of finding out more , I have had it a while but finally got round to giving it a clean and it seems like brass under all the dirt ,with enamel and some lovely stones, I think it could be Art Deco ,
Thanks

Lovely Paua Bracelet. Silver links and beautiful colours from the Paua shell.
I think this is called "Abolone" in the US
Here in New Zealand it is "Paua" pronounced Pawah, with a striking blue, green, and purple iridescence.
It is very popular and often made into jewellery amongst many other souvenir items.

Do not know much about these except they were my Mom (R.I.P.) and I remember her wearing them in the 1960's

They are like oval beads with a Sparkle sugar coating that really shimmer and sparkle. Hard to get a pick of it. The Pics do not do them justice even right now for being 50 years old. Wish I could get a better pic of how they do sparkle, and shimmer in the light.

Any idea about these, or what it would be called. I thought it kinda looked like *Wheat kernels with a Shimmer coating of sugar*.

This dainty Art Nouveau Pink Heart brooch is so cute... The pink glass center stone is a very pretty color... this piece is less than 1 inch... I got this with the lot of stick pins I posted a couple of weeks ago and was saving it until Valentines Day... Well, close enough... Here it is...

I found this today, and thought it would be a perfect match for the Boucher necklace I already have, and I think they go together pretty well! It's not marked, but it appears to be a quality piece, with a well made clasp. If anyone knows who made this, I'd appreciate that info. Thanks!

Yes, I lost another earring! I have more “divorced” earrings than pairs! I was so frustrated because I lost one more last week so I went out and bought the biggest ones my ears would tolerate. My hope is that when one of these ones falls or gets stuck in a scarf, I will notice!

I received this beautiful brooch as a present a couple of years ago. It's from Elizabeth Taylor's Jewelry Collection by Avon. It was released in 1994.
I met Elizabeth around that same time as she was promoting her Diamonds and Rubies / Emeralds / Sapphires perfumes. I was one of the sales girls in the only department store in San Diego that she visited. It was THE event of the year at our store. Such a big production. And the best part is that the sales team had an opportunity to meet with her in a separate reception prior to the big event... She was lovely... Had her beloved Maltese (don't remember her name) with her too. Very down to earth and very witty... May she rest in peace.

Interesting silver bracelet found at my Grandmother's house. Wondering if it is from Morocco back in the 1940's or so when France was in control? Also would like information on all the symbols. Thank you!

I am still learning about gems...
I believe the past row is garnet. The dark blue maybe Tanzanite blue quartz. The white ones may be either opal, moonstone, rose, or pink crystal. The front row, may be mystic London blue topaz or neon blue apatite... Your thoughts?

I bought these along with some of my other recently posted bead necklaces... I am now getting around to looking into it.

Here's a Trifari Heart Necklace. It's signed (stamped) with the TM under it and it's from the 90's. I personally don't put anything that's newer than the 70's into the category of vintage, but many people do. I just posted it for the Triffari lovers and the hearts!

Thought this set was pretty, even though it does have a piece of glass missing. I think it is milk glass and I do hope I may have a piece in my mix match collection to repair it. If not I will have it done professionally. I do think it will be worth it.

Only the first one at the top, the thick chain link, has a hallmark, Monet, the rest are unmarked. The second may be copper, it has pretty etched flowers. The third looks exotic if you look close at the charms, maybe Indian. The fourth is the one that I like best with the delicate looking yellow flowers and pretty mother of pearl drops (three are missing?). The bottoms of the flowers are pretty chipped up. It's still a favorite of mine. I hope you enjoy looking at them. :)

Marjorie Baer is a contemporary designer based in San Francisco. She has been designing for over 30 years. All pieces are hand made.

"She finds inspiration in the forms of the natural world, in the details of African and Asian Art, and in the sculptural balance of modern art and architecture. Her designs blend these elements into a modern and unique aesthetic that is perfect for contemporary women." - from Marjorie Baer website.

Hello I thought this was jade when I first saw it but am not sure it is ice cold and seems like stone but think I need help with it, have no idea of age or what it's made of. Any help or input appreciated.
Thanks

I need help identifying this necklace too. I think I've seen it before but don't remember where or who might have made it. If you know, could you please share your knowledge or thoughts? Thank you sooooo much!

I bought this rhinestone necklace which measures 40" and I'm wondering if anyone would have an idea of who might have manufactured it? I suppose it could be colored glass actually- I'm just not sure. Thanks for taking a look!

The papier-mache box the other day made me think of these bits and bracelets, which led to those other plastic bracelets in the same box, and so here they all are. The first three bracelets still have the foil label in them, Made in India. I assumed they were wood, but possibly papier-mache? I had a gorgeous little papier-mache box from Suffering Moses made in Kashmir. I think those bracelets and maybe the bits are from the 70s. The little bits I may have gotten from Mexico, they are tiny, half an inch or so in size. And the hand-painted plastic bangles are from the 80s as I recall. I can never buy one of anything, I have to have all the colors! I hope you enjoy looking at these!

I have been studying very hard to obtain my Real Estate License to practice in California. My true passion, other than vintage jewelry, is Real Estate...

Today I took my state board exam and I am happy to say, I PASSED... Yeepee...

In celebration of this awesome event, my daughter and I visited an antique store in downtown San Diego. Not a great place to shop, way too expensive for me.... So, we strolled down to the store next door, which specializes in Danish Modern furniture. As I was looking around, in a tray with flatware, there were three brooches. I scooped them up immediately and paid $20 for all three. How bizarre that they were there, in a completely unrelated store.

I knew immediately that these were Boucher dancers from 1949 / 1950 time frame. (These are not my actual pictures as I haven't done that yet, but taken from google images). My girl dancer has a blue skirt instead of pink.

This is pin is made of silver and has a Vermiel gold overlay. Lots of colorful enamel, greens, turquoise and royal blue, slightly chipped and shabby but that's ok, it's old. Nice size at about 1 1/2". I prefer to wear this as a pendant held on by a slip knot. The necklase is made of leather so it doesn't damage the pin. There is no real turquoise on this it is either enamel or pottery in origin. The half pearls are real.

Spring is not quite around the corner but these Trifari pieces are fit for an Easter parade. The large white enamel magnolia flower brooch is quite large. It's a good 2 1/2" across. Nestled in the gold tone center is a single smokey grey pearl. The smaller gold tone basket brooch is filled with little pearl flowers which remind me of lily of the valley. Both are marked Trifari and were a great find from today's jewelry sorting at Salvation Army . -Mike-

Hello I thought I would post this lovely bangle which I found a while back and think might be Bakelite or similar, it's been sitting in a bag with others that still need checking, I find things but spend most time hunting then forget about the things I have already found LOL.
Thanks

I am not sure if this is a correct reference, but I call these bubble beads... This is a three strand necklace. I specially love the clasp. It's also AB coated, so it has a very nice glimmer to it. It's most likely from 1950s.

Hello I thought this was Bakelite but am not sure as i left it in boiling water and it went quite soft and I don't think Bakelite does this ? It's very heavy and hoping for help from plastic expert or anyone that knows more pls
Thanks

Found and very neat. In mint condition. I only wish I knew more about it. But it seems to be in the original box. And I know it's a lisner because it says lisner on the back of each screw clip eqrring. The jewels are deep blue not sure of what kind of metal though.

I cannot wait to show this bracelet off - but it has to be spring! It will look great with almost any one-coloured outfit. I have seen the matching necklace on line and when I found this bracelet I regreted not getting the necklace.

The little balls are propobly made of lucite. Unfurtunetly, many have hairline cracks but one cannot really tell when the bracelet is worn.

I need help identifying what this bracelet might be made of besides the silver or metal material. It sounds like some type of plastic when it is tapped. I have had this bracelet for many years bought from a thrift store if anyone has any thoughts I would greatly appreciate it. I do not have experience with the older plastics lucite bakelite etc. Thank you

This is one of my recent finds: I believe this brooch has some age to it but I am not sure about the actual age. The stone looks like glass to me and the metal could be plated. I bought it because it looks really pretty (the photo doesn'tdo it any justice). There are no marks whatsoever on it:(

Hello I have managed to clean the dirt enough to see markings on the diamond cross pendant, I can see 925 and I think might be a anchor with H v P it looks like it could have a line in the middle of the v.
Hoping someone can tell me more
Thanks

This is so beautiful in person... The green is a beautiful jade color and the shape is absolutely gorgeous... I found this little beauty at Salvation Army a couple of years ago. I didn't think much about it and put it away, but a recent review changed my mind...

This is one of my favorite stands of beads that I own. I have a big box full of bead strands as I used to make jewelry... This was purchased about 4 years ago. I do believe it's Czech glass... Your thoughts?

Hello I thought I would post this ring that I have never been able to find out more about from anyone,it was totally black when found years ago,and cleaned it to get it looking like this,I have no idea what the metal or stone is, so any help would be great
Thanks

This was my pick for today from Salvation. Four pearl and rhinestone brooches. Two are marked and two are not. The circle pin with the four faux pearls spaced by rhinestones is Marvella. The oval pave rhinestone brooch with the green cabochon in the center is not marked. Neither is the pave and baguette rhinestone leaf. The gold dual layer leaf pin however is marked Boucher (1937 to 71'/72') and contains a single faux pearl near the stem. It's fairly easy to date Boucher pieces as they have an inventory number along with their mark. The copyright mark in front of their name was used by 1955. This pin has the number 8974 P. So it's from 1962-64 and the P stands for pin. An E would have been used on earrings. The 9100 numbers were used on the late 60's and 70's pieces until the company became part of Davorn Industries in 1972. Davorn sold the name and designs to Stutz Fashion in 1977. Early pieces seem to command very high prices. A UK site I checked out had their pieces listed from the hundreds to thousands ! This one being later however is no where near that. -Mike-

Aren't these pretty... I purchases these a few years ago as a part of a very large lot... I think the round piece is sterling, but I am not sure about what stone... and the first piece, I believe is called moon glow glass.

This piece is quiet large, around 2.5 inches across. It was a part of my stick pin lot purchase. I am not sure whether it's an old piece or a revival / copy. The c clasp looks good, and the fact that the pin is a bit longer than the brooch... But I am not sure if the materials used and the size are correct. I welcome your thoughts on this...

This vintage ring is lovely. It was made pre 1955 before copyright and has pat pen (patent pending) so helps with date as copyright was introduced after 1955. It adjusts under the top so is easy to wear. I have another two that show the same setting.

This is what made me fall for brooches and costume jewelry! I have yet to come across another one like it! I'VE SEARCHED AND SEARCHED trying to find any information on this piece but no luck. Started a search tonight and came across this page and wondered if maybe you've seen it or know anything about this guy! I call him the Owl turk hehe. It is hand painted (looked under magnify glass) only other thing i could find was a similar in the hand painted "mosaic" ??? pattern. This guy is my baby!
Thanks for letting me share!
Keeks

]]>Costume Jewelry / Schreiner Costume Jewelryhttp://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/146391-my-prized-piece-signed-schreiner-newyorhttp://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/146391-my-prized-piece-signed-schreiner-newyorMy newest additions that are most interesting because I don't have a clue as to the history, bought at an estate sale.http://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/146368-my-newest-additions-that-are-most-intere
Thu, 22 Jan 2015 19:09:36 -0800

I need help identifying this item please! Bought from an estate sale and am clueless as to the history, brand, or age of the items. They appear to be black hills gold and silver?

I believe this was a piece of a belt. The vendor I purchased it from told me that they got 25 of loose in one box. By the time I got to them, they only had 6 left. It's a pretty large piece, around 2.5 by 3.5 inches. It is in absolute perfect shape.

Now this piece is a completely different style for me. When I bought it I was told that it was from Miriam Haskell, I have researched her and it does indeed look like her Jewellery from her earlier period, but I would like someone to verify this. Unfortunately it's not marked, it was only during the 1950s she started to sign her name.
It is very pretty, made of glass beads, the pastel colours are lovely, and the hours that has been spent into making this piece, I wouldn't like to guess. The hook does look vintage and there is a chain, at the bottom of the chain is a glass bead on the last link, you can adjust the length. I think it would lovely as a choker necklace

Just another piece of Heirloom items passed down in OUR family. This is some of the stuff that was packed away in the Victorian Papier Mache Box I just posted a few days ago. Was packed when I moved, and only now I am digging through some of my family stuff here while having the Flu

Must have had something on the front of the Locket as there are those 2 holes there where I assume some pic was attached -- but it is now long gone.

Thought a good time to get some pics to post from stuff of my family I had buried away....

This brooch belonged to my Great Aunt who travelled regularly to Toronto, Canada from the 1950's until the late 1970's. It is not hallmarked or stamped but I suspect that it may be a Sherman piece. All comments on its authenticity would be gratefully received. It is still in the original box.

Picked up this set today at another thrift store. It is marked Regency and is in great condition. Unfortunately the pic does not do it justice...the stones are a very deep purple with an iridescent glow. This is an awesome set. The pin is 5" long.

One of my favorite finds is the heart shape with the red pastes on gold filled brooch. It's marked Wilbur... Which a while back I researched and found out that it's an old jewelry maker, but now I am having a hard time finding info on... I have to pull the brooch and check spelling again. There are also a Coro, Vendome, Weiss and R. Mandle...

If you like the best this bracelet does it in color and quality. I was amazed when I first saw the beauty and the quality of this bracelet. One of the most beautiful in this collection I am amassing for my sister. The quality of the stones and the blue is the most breathtaking. The collection has been growing in leaps and bounds since I started it, and the individuality of most of the pieces is more enhanced as the collection grows.

The stones look much better in person. The aurora borealis makes the stones take on a violet color which is really breathtaking with the cobalt blue they usually would look like.

A baguette diamond has a long, rectangular shape and plain, simple lines. The name comes from the French word baguette which means long stick. Baguette diamonds have an understated look with a quiet sheen rather than the fire of a brilliant-cut diamond. Because of this the diamonds used for baguette cuts must be clear and high-quality, as any flaws or imperfections in the diamond are readily seen with this cut.

Luckily the baguette stones are beautifully done with no flaws on color, shine, and pristine - as they can detract when the stones are not flawless. I find on a lot of bracelets these stones can be poorly used.

I had so much fun at the Del Mar Antique show on Friday... I found a very cool vendor that had a couple of boxes of these cute things and I bought all these brooches from him. One turned out to be Bakelite (circular with wood insert picture 3). The guy gave me a good deal for the whole lot... :)
The dogs in picture 4 have moving heads...

Here is my latest find: a chunky galalith necklace by French designer Danielle Poullain, signed 'Isadora Paris'. It probably dates from the late 70's or early 80's. I love its bright shiny colors and its lovely Art Deco shape. Definitely one of the greatest necklaces of my humble jewelry collection...
Very few designers still produce galalith jewelry as it has become a rare and expensive material. Here is an interesting link about this one-of-a-kind plastic: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galalith

This is from some family stuff that was all together and what is there appears to be Victorian.....so I am assuming this is too. A necklace that separate at the ends but can be twisted together. Not sure if someone made this (Beading hobby) or was purchased this way. Very pretty and different. Anyone know any more info on this kind of necklace?

Hi. I inherited this necklace after my grandma. I do not know what is this sterling silver ? I do not know who is the maker. There is a stamp STERLING and other marks see pic. What kind of stones there can be? If you know or have an idea please let me know. Thank you so much!

Large sparkly heart necklace from a yard sale, no marks. This lady had a lot of jewelry that looked like maybe 70s and 80s, this necklace strikes me as from that era. Some of you like to collect plastic jewelry, so thought I would share this here. And actually I am only assuming it is plastic, don't know what the material is. If anyone has information to share about my new favorite necklace, I would love to hear it. Thanks for looking!

I found these two pieces at the thrift they are both marked 925 and the big piece looks very well made the other one is more dainty and i see a w above the 925 on the clasp ring. I don't really know alot about amber and I am not sure how old either one is.

Didn't find much on this designer/company except that they were only producing jewelry for a couple of decades until the 60's.
I found one for sale in a California store for over $500, but I'm sure this one doesn't hold that kind of value.
Has any of you costume jewelry aficionados seen this name before?
I appreciate your feedback!
Jenny

There is no marking of any kind on this bracelet. The details are exquisite, and I'm wondering if this might be from a designer ( like Miriam Haskel, who has unsigned pieces from the 50 's and 60's)
Any feedback is appreciated!
Jenny

This is a very sweet brooch... I don't recall now how I came to have it. But I haven't appreciated as much until recently. I love the colors of the flowers. I did a bit of research and it appears to be Russian... Your thoughts?

I need help identifying the beautiful signed emerald glass rhinestone pin as shown in the photos. My internet research comes up empty handed. This is a high quality pin with gold filigree leaves, emerald navettes combined with a pale yellow navette and a green cabochon. I love vintage costume jewelry and would appreciate the help of CW experts!

The only mark on this is on the pin part and it says France it seems to be glass and needs repair and cleaning. The pin locks into place by pulling the end of it out and then pushing it back in. Any thoughts on this one?

I am not sure whether this piece is old or not... I purchased it a while back in a huge lot purchase. I don't even know what the center stone is... Would this be considered art nouveau style? Your thoughts?

Revision 1: Thanks for the help of my CW friends, I am declaring this piece as an old piece with peking glass center stone.

Fork Art or Collectible, made from an old fork, into this item...any idea of its purpose? The fork is silverplate and looks like the date on back says 1878, but my eyes are too bad to read such small things.

This wonderful full parure set came from my good friends at Salvation army this morning. It didn't have it's original case but it was donated all in one box. It's in absolutely perfect condition all marked and appears like new. Amazing marquis cut rhinestones in a brillant gold-tone leaf design setting. The set comprises a necklace, a bracelet and a set of clip-on earrings. This is the first complete matching set I found intact. Others I have put together myself but this is really something. -Mike-

Lisner History
Courtesy of Atticshopper.com

D. Lisner and Company was founded in New York City in 1900 and closed in 1985. The Lisner jewelry mark was first used in 1935, a mark of D. Lisner & Co in New York. They used their mark in block print and script, and it is the mark of Lisner & Richelieu. The quality of the jewelry they made ranged from very good to above average. They made much of their jewelry in the 1950's. "LISNER" in block was the mark first used in 1935. "Lisner" in script was first used in 1938, and in 1959 the mark used most was "Lisner" in block-type letters with a long L. These marks may appear on jewelry made by Lisner over a period of 55 plus years, and it is not possible to date an item by the mark alone. Molds and findings were kept and stamping dies were rarely disposed of and were used again at later dates.

Parure vs Demi Parure
Courtesy of Antiques about.com

Several pieces of matching jewelry that are designed to be worn together, though fewer than a full set or parure; dates from the the second half of the 16th century, and traditionally, when a parure involved six or seven pieces, a demi-parure was a three-piece suite of (usually) a necklace, earrings and a brooch or bracelet; however, in the early 20th century, the term "parure" began to refer to just a trio of coordinating items, and a demi-parure was similarly downscaled to refer to any two matching pieces

I am trying to figure out this piece - on the pin part it looks like it says czechoslovakia the fourth picture you can see it and it looks like there may be a broken off part not sure what it is made of maybe glass beads. I do not see any other marks on the metal part. any thoughts Thanks for looking!

Here's something I thought had really nice eye appeal. I had been looking at it for a week and the price finally dropped fifty percent. While nothing of great value it's probably 80's or 90's, I loved the design. The very "deco" band has end to end beautiful sky blue marquis cut rhinestone flanked by two amethyst colored stones. The watch is marked "Pearl" quartz on the face which looks like a "mother of pearl" finish. The movement is Swiss made and assembled in Thailand. When I removed the battery the case back is also stamped "Hong Kong" inside. It takes a tiny "377" size watch battery. Finally one I can actually get up and running myself. -Mike-

Although this brooch is missing a few small rhinestones it is still lovely.

It is designed by Coro and the mark is very faint, apparently not uncommon on very early Coro pieces. I have seen more modern copies or remakes of this design. If anyone can date this for me, it would be much appreciated.

These beautiful 1.25" double hoop earrings call out DYNASTY! They are perfect: glued - not set rhinestones in the tradition of Butler & Wilson.

Butler & Wilson is a British jewelry company established in the 1960's. Remember the big jeweled rhinestone lizard pins in the 80's? Most likely B&W made them or someone was influenced by them.

Davy suggested they might be Richard Kerr designs. I am so excited to get closer to their origin. I looked on ebay and yes, they look similar to other Richard Kerr 1980's items. These are not signed darn. And, really gorgeous deep hue rhinestones. My pictures are okay - think a few clicks darker and sparklier!

I bought this on ebay about 3 yrs ago from a California artist. It was a very pale yellow but since then the top layer is darkening which shows off the beautiful carved work. Time for me to put it away. This is dark enough. Nice dramatic large size - 1.25"x1" - carved from a single piece of plastic! No glue, no seams. I know this isn't for everyone but since I'm from corn country (Iowa) it was perfect for me. I love it! Nice addition to my bakelite ring collection.

I bought this 1/2" wide ring on ebay about 4 yrs ago from a California artist. I kick myself that I didn't buy the matching bangle bracelet. Yes, it isn't perfectly symmetrical or polished but it is really a wonderful patchwork - must be some old toothbrush pieces in here don't you think?

I bought this on eBay and have no idea what it is made of other than the obvious mother of pearl scallop shell. Are the beads some sort of gemstone or amber? And what about the middle embellishment? What could that be? Thanks so much for any insight!

Hello my friends. I received this set from a family member. It's a necklace and earring set in multi-shaped 1/2" red plastic beads. Some of the beads appear frosted, some plain, and some with an iridescent coating. There are also gold tone metal beads that are cut-out with aurora borealis stones. Holding the beads together are gold tone metal links. The earrings are clip ons. The set is marked with "Made in Austria". I understand this is not a highly sought after item but it is beautiful and I'm interested in its history. Does anyone know when this would have been produced-40's, 50's, 60's? What about a maker's name in Austria? By the way, sorry if my pictures upload sideways. Not sure

I just bought this beautiful set of jewelry - clips earrings, bracelet, and necklace. All three are gold tone. The bracelet and earrings appear to have Aurora Borealis stones and the necklace appears to have clear swaroski. All three pieces are unmarked. The antique shop told me that the rectangle panels are real shell. I need some help...trying to figure out what time period this came from, which jewelry maker produced this, is this shell or mother of Pearl? I'm not an expert at this and having a difficult time with research. Any help is greatly appreciated!!!

It's a very dark, rainy day, which I love because we hardly get any rain here, but not very good for my photographic skills! It's a nice silver color, though in need of a good cleaning, not the awful tint that my photos show. This I found today while out thrifting with a friend. You can definitely see the few missing rhinestones & a couple of darkened ones, but I love it none the less & my friend will be able to take care of the missing ones easily. It measures 3.5" x 1.5". The pin is just over 2" long and sticks out just past the "c" clasp. It's marked sterling & the makers mark as well, but I can't make it out yet.

I've tried to figure more about this: it isn't bakelite, somebody did a hot pin test right on the front (crap- why?) but there are other less invasive ways to test bakelite (hot water, simichrome, rub&smell). My guess is anywhere from 1970 to present. Any help is appreciated - I've been searching this on plastic for the past year but don't find a match.

This stunner measures 3" x 2 3/4". Again, it has some but not all of the characteristics of Juliana. One rhinestone is missing, but will easily be replaced by my friend Glenda who works with the showgirls here in Vegas. Please excuse the thread wrapped around the close-up shot, didn't notice & was too lazy to reshoot the picture! I found it yesterday at the local thrift along with a cool 60"s Bonwit Teller satin jacket which I'll be posting later.

My best guess is that this brooch was made of red glass and brass, but I am not too sure about either.

The metal base of the brooch seems to be soldered together of individual components. The "stones" are a bit rough and not completely clear. The brooch seems to have some age to it but I really have no idea how old it is.

The way it is made to look, it could be an attempt to copy the look of Bohemian garnets in Victorian jewelry, although in this style the garnets are usually put very close together. I have not seen a design like this one. I have seen, however, clear rhinestones arranged in rectangles as decorations on fancy dresses in the 1990's but my brooch is rather different from those mass-produced decorations.

This necklace has always been on our wishlist, or more specifically, our MUST-BUY list. Just look at how intricate the chain links are, and even the back is pretty. This is such a fine piece of costume jewelry, and one marked "Nettie Rosenstein" is just as scarce. The necklace features a large faux ivory cameo set in an ornate frame with a seal fob of a heraldic shield.

This is the second brooch I found yesterday and I think it might be an unmarked Sherman piece. I almost didn't buy it because the colour is very similar to a brooch I bought a few years ago.

The quality is really very good. The AB stones have a gorgeous sparkle and the setting is solid and well done. The brooch is constructed in two layers.

The condition of the piece is excellent. There is not wear on the back and the stones are in very good condition. There are some minor scratches on the stones but they are not visible to the bare eye.

The design doesn't look to me as a recent one. If I am wrong and the pin is not a Sherman piece, I still think that it is a well made item worth having. What I mean by that is that it has some quality to it and does not give the appearance of a cheap, mass-produced item.

The third and forth photo include an earring. The earring is marked Sherman and displays a very similar construction and design. I just put it there for comparison.

These look very bridal to me... Specially the Nolan Miller bow... There are a couple of Eisenbergs and Weiss in there too... In general, I don't collect clear ones, but the Eisenberg on the right side is one of my all time favorites (and one of the first pieces I collected).

I found this brooch yesterday together with a second one (I will post it next) and I think it might be an unmarked Sherman piece. The quality is really very good. The AB stones have a gorgeous sparkle and the setting is solid and well done. The brooch is constructed in two layers.

The condition of the piece is excellent. There is not wear on the back and the stones are in very good condition. There are some minor scratches on the stones but they are not visible to the bare eye.

The design doesn't look to me as a recent one. If I am wrong and the pin is not a Sherman piece, I still think that it is a well made item worth having. What I mean by that is that it has some quality to it and does not give the appearance of a cheap, mass-produced item.

The third and forth photo include an earring. The earring is marked Sherman and displays a very similar construction and design. I just put it there for comparison.

I suffer from miserable lower back issues... From time to time it just goes out and I am bed bound for a few days...
This was one of my purchases 2 years ago, when I was stuck in bed for 10 days. Terrible experience, but bought a few nice things on ebay :)

This Swarovski brooch is from their 1997 Annual Edition, and retired the same year... I love the vibrant color and the red enamel back.

My niece was born on a Year of Dragon and my plan is to give it to her next time around (I think in about 10 years... :)

This Necklace and Earring Set has Glass Jet Black Rhinestones accented with AB Rhinestones in Gold tone setting has been a mystery I think it maybe a Juliana Piece but clearly the earrings are different style from the necklace but was worn together picked this up at an estate sale and it looks stunning on! Just adore it have worn it a few times to events just one of my wonderful pieces that I enjoy!

I found this pretty sparkly vintage piece a couple of weeks ago at one of my favorite thrift stores as I stopped by to donate some stuff...
I am not completely sure, but I think it might be a Juliana piece. I remember vaguely seeing a similar piece in my Juliana book. Once I get a chance I will review and validate. This piece is in pretty much mint condition... The thrift store manager, who is just too funny and loveable, let me go thru a box of jewelry and pick a few things for only $10... This was one of them...

I'm posting these for Gudrun: 2 modern lacquer bangles made to imitate cinnabar.

A few years ago I searched for the best cinnabar I could afford knowing it would not be as beautiful as the antique bangles or even the nice 70's items I'd seen. Then I realized I couldn't afford those items anyway.

I decided on this 1.5" wide domed bangle - ducks swimming in curved waves. Each of the 4 ducks is different. It's charming - I wear it a lot. The thinner 3/8" is a nice 80's or 90's tourist spacer. I have a dozen of the 1/8" lacquer bangles in red and black that I wear between heavier bangles because they are good sound-absorbers!

I posted these beads earlier. Someone had restrung the necklace, but it was a bit too short for me. Whoever did it, made a bracelet out of the remaining beads. It was too short too and both parts, the necklace and the bracelet had parts missing. I combined bot to one necklace. Before posting it here, I found a very similar post from a fellow CW member:
http://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/85145-crystal-necklace?in=1030
Based on this post I venture to date my necklace to the 1950's.

This is a pretty little crystal necklace. It is about 16" long and is strung on a metal chain, rather than string or wire. There are little metal rings (copper?) used as spacers between the crystal beads.

I am not sure about the age but based on the clasp I would venture to say that it was made around or before 1950. What do you think?

I found these earrings recently. I don't think I will ever wear them because they are screw back - my ears do not agree with this system - but I thought they make a good addition to my vintage costume jewelry collection. The condition is excellent. I would date them to the fifties????

The D'Orlan company, as far as I know, was a Canadian company and closed in 2006. The quality of their products was very good; they are said to have used Austrian crystals and plated their products very well.
I found old stock for sale at www.creedcanada.com, however my earrings were not on their website. Based on the style, I think that these earrings might be from the 80's???

Anyway, they are in perfect condition and might look great when worn for a night out.

This is a pewter bangle made in 1978 by Hantverkarnas Tenn in Jokkmokk, Sweden. They made pewter that was inspired by the samic traditional designs in pewter and silver. I haven´t been able to find out who the maker is although the initials are marked inside the bangle, Ithink its "TN". In the last photo I show it together with my sami bracelet that you can see in a separate post. I think they look great together.

I must admit I have a soft spot for bangles. This is my second "cinnabar" bangle. It is a bit different than the first one I found: the carving is against a black background and not as fine, and the bangle itself feels heavier. Of course it is bigger, so it is expected to be heavier but it seems not proportional to its size.

I am not sure what it really is made of. Any help would be appreciated.

I want to show the traditional Sami Jewelry from Sweden.
There are a lot of these bracelets around that aren´t the real thing, not made of the right traditional materials and not even made by samis. Here I show a thin one that I bought in the 1980´s that I know for sure is the real thing. I have used it for about 29 years and it still looks nice I think. The bracelet is made of soft raindeer leather and have broideries of pewter wire that is braided. The leather is sawn with thread made of tendon and the button is made from raindeerantlers.

The bigger bracelet is also very nice, but it isn´t made of the right traditional materials. Just wanted to show it as well because someone has still put a lot of work into it.

This should be under "ethnic jewelry" but there is no such subcategory under costume jewelry.

This post might cause some irritation as leather etc has been used from raindeer. I just want to say something about that. There are still people living traditionally from raindeers in Sweden. They manage to live a life in tune with nature that I think the rest of us can learn from. I respect the way they go about things. In this I think there is a healthy way of thinking as they use everything from the animal, not just the meat. That´s something we should concider before we are critical, it´s a way of going about things that are lightyears away from the industrialiced meatfarms most meat we find in the store comes from (not just in this country).

Here is my collection of Laurel Burch... I am not a huge fan, but I do like the vibrant colors. I pick them up here and there, if the price is right... I specially became fascinated by her story.... Here is a link.

These are perhaps Miriam Haskell or in style of Miriam Haskell brooches from 1940s. They were purchased at various opportunities... I keep them together because of the construction. I love these and am always looking for them at a reasonable cost.

I need your help, again, in identifying something I bought at an auction. As you can see from the photos, these are Asian pieces- a bracelet and what I think is a dress clip. The bracelet is sadly damaged but it is so beautiful that I bought it anyway. Can anyone tell me anything about these pieces? Oh yes, the bracelet clasp is stamped/marked "China" but its as if its spelled Cihina- its hard to tell.

La Roco Earrings and Extra Wide Bracelet Set, Finest Marquise Green Stones With Aurora Borealis Coating...With Black Japanned Back to the Bracelet. Japanned is most often a heavy black lacquer, almost like enamel paint.
Getting away from Sherman Jewels for a change of pace. For my sister to wear, in a collection I am building for her.

This set is by an almost lost company. La Roco jewelry is Layco, Ross and Co. INC. The company started business in 1918 in Seattle, Washington. I have nor real information on the company at all at this time. Many of their bracelets and brooches are not signed at all, in all the sets I have seen on the internet for sale. Usually the earrings are always signed, and a necklace I have seen signed also. While the brooches I have seen are not signed, I noticed a fair amount of them were Japanned on the back. They also used some unusual stones.

Apart from that little is known it appears. I wish I knew more info on the original company and its history. Fascinating stones, the deep green marquise stones have an aurora borealis coating and when you first see this set in person, as I did, it really took my breath away. Very hard to photograph the wow factor this bracelet has, I wanted to mainly show it without the extra wow the aurora borealis coating has. I tried my best however.

Thanks to Renee, who lives close by and has amazing sets of jewellery for me to buy.

There is a fantastic antique store in San Diego and I like to check it from time to time for lapel pins (have bought about 100 of them there).
In a recent visit with my daughter, she purchased this piece for me as a present. Here is a link to the sister piece, I posted a while back... It's one of my favorite pieces to wear and I get a lot of compliments on it.

Here's my first find for the New Year...well a few hours early... or my last find for this year. Either way it's a beauty ! It's a petite expandable rhinestone bracelet. Barely 2 1/2 " in diameter but it does open to almost double that. It's in nice condition with no missing stones. The three rows of rhinestone really sparkle but it probably could use a bit of cleaning. It's marked "Empire Made" on one of the links. This mark was used by British companies working out of Hong Kong in the 50's. I found a couple online and they sell for between seventy five to one hundred dollars here and in the UK. Not too bad for a three dollar investment. " Happy New Year Everyone" -Mike-

I found this at a local estate sale in Greensboro, NC. It's super cool but has no identifying information. Does it look familiar? Old? Would I call it a choker with a swirl pendant? I'm so clueless! Any help identifying this would be appreciated!!!

So I found this great necklace at a goodwill store in a grab-bag of jewelry. At first I thought the stones were turquoise but now I'm not so sure. In fact, I have no idea what they might be. All the stones are faceted and are very cold. I'm hoping someone might know what sort of stones these are. And is this something that might have been made at a particular time? I am putting this in the Native American category as well as costume jewelry... I have great faith in Collectors Weekly readers/viewers! Thank you so much!!!

This was a tortoise brooch but pin clasp sadly broke off. Bought it with a mixture of jewellery years ago never found out who was maker an whose initials were inside I'm guessing it's silver but not sure

This piece is exquisite. The watch portion of this unusual hinged bracelet is Swiss made and keeps perfect time. It had a gold wash on it but no maker's mark. It had nice weight and all the stones are deeply set. Not a scratch on it... AND a rocket ship!! It's so beautiful! I'm assuming it was made in the 60s. Can anyone tell me anything else about it? Who might have made it? Ever seen anything like it before?

This Miriam Haskell necklace, brooch and earrings set is like no other I've ever seen. The large clasps can come off the necklace to become two brooches. The smaller clasp then holds the necklace together. Ever see anything like this before?

From Ford Jewellers of Chatham Ontario. This is a large Sherman set, with large brooch, and larger bracelet with a set of earrings. I was drawn to this set by the fact is the owner had kept the receipt from 1967, and still a pristine set after many years. There was a lot of interest or watchers, but the price was high so there were no bids. Finally I relented and entered the initial high starting bid.

The cost was so low back when for this set, in 1967, almost unheard of now. The bracelet is a larger piece than normal because of the larger stones used. Also, because the marquise stones are larger, the set really stands out beautifully when viewing in person. More unusual, was that the brooch seemed to be the most expensive of the set originally. All pieces in this set are signed Sherman.

I HAVE ADDED the 4th photo (spent time to bring up clarity and color ) to show how low prices were in Jan. 1971, at a Birks Canada store. Photo enhanced from a photo in the book by Sandra Caldwell, "sherman jewellery, the masterpiece collection" !~

Gustave Sherman died 1984

Gustave Sherman, a former jewellery salesman, set up his first factory in 1947 in Montreal, Canada. Sherman used his knowledge of the jewellery industry, design and techniques to create an amazing signature collection. Sherman costume jewellery was created from 1947 until the early 80s when the factory closed. During that time, his pieces were very popular and widely available at department stores here in Canada such as Eatons. Also he sold through some of the best jewelry companies in Canada such as Birks Jewelry and Peoples.

Many costume jewellery designers utilized rhinestones and cyrstals, but Sherman’s were unique. Sherman was actually the first designer who used top quality Swarovski rhinestones and cystals. You notice this straight off when you look at a Sherman piece, as the sparkling, multi-faceted stones really stand out. They sparkle so much they practically light up a room! Sherman produced a variety of pieces including necklaces, bracelets, brooches and earrings in a variety of colours. Pieces that are commonly found are necklaces, earrings and brooches. Sherman bracelets, on the other hand, are hard to find and much sought after.

The stones themselves can be either clear finish or coated stones called Aurora Borealis stones which seem to give a piece every color gleaming from the stones ! They also made Topaz Jewellery or Alexandrite jewelry. And then came the beads and finally the craze seemed to go by the eighties.

Signed vs. Unsigned
There is a large amount of unsigned pieces. A lot of the jewellery was made in sets, so it is possible to find earrings signed and large pieces such as necklaces and bracelets unsigned. The unsigned pieces are identical quality as to the signed. Also there are 2 signature types to the pieces, depending on years made. Recently I saw an unknowledgable antique dealer trying to say that Eatons sold only the unmarked pieces. Ridiculous ! That is totally false, as some of the best were not marked and they ended up at Jewelry stores also. Also I have heard it said that the bracelets are hardest to find, and so command the most money. On some of the sets that I have bought recently there was an old bill attached and I was surprised to see the brooch in that set sold for 30 dollars and the bracelet around 15 dollars.

Some of the men's jewellery they made such as cufflinks were made of real gold and are marked as such.

Never have I had a vintage lucite brooch in my possession. But when I saw this I immediately sold. I find it very nice and reversed carved with two ladybugs and leaves.
It was made in the 50 years, and put in copper setting with 3 scoops on each side and a trompet clasp. I hope you appreciate it as I do.
Because I have no knowledge of this type of jewelry and there are quite a lot different types of plastics from the early years of the last century, I want to ask you whether my assumption is correct that this is a brooch was made of lucite ??

I found this ring recently I would love get some information. It is unmarked, which makes it for me very difficult to date it. I am pretty sure it is a costume piece, maybe gold plated. It looks pretty convincing but I am certain the "stone" is glass. There is some wear on the ring but no other metal shines through. The green glass is in perfect condition - no scratches or other wear at all. I think that for a custom piece or an imitation item it's well made.

I bought it because I love the green colour and because it is similar in style to a ring my grandmother bought me in the mid-seventies. The ring she bought me is 10K gold.

Does anyone have any idea about the age or the maker of this kind of jewelry?

Here's my little huarache or chankla earring I've had for over 40 yrs! I lost one so long ago and kept this for some reason...guess it's time for me to create my own! These/this is real leather and about 1/2"

My mom brought the pair back from her trip to Guadalajara as a surprise for me. I gave her a surprise too, while she was gone I threw a party that the whole school attended!!! Cops and all...lol. I spent the next few weeks playing Cinderella!

I don't know if this piece is Juliana or just has some of the characteristics of it. It has the multi layer, the open & closed back on the rhinestones, the figure 8 puddling , the large pin attached on the back & also the wild, bold style. whatever the case may be, I think this is the favorite of my collection! I want to wish everyone Merry Christmas !

Hey: This is another item from my moms estate that I don't know much about? Can anyone tell me much about it? I'm guessing it from the 5o's. not fancy materials but the animals are pretty cool. I think the eyes are hand painted? Don't know what the materials are. The size of the animals is pretty standardized?

My Mom didn't care for bracelets so she gave it to me. It's 14 chains with scattered pearls-should be 15, but it was missing a chain when she got it. It's 7.5 inches long and the clasp ends are 1.25 inches across. The chains are more golden than it looks in the picture. I've never seen a Coro like this. The chains have gotten twised into a torque over the years when they should hang straight. Do you think I need to have a professional straighten them out? It still looks cool wearing it like it is.

Found this piece at a yard sale for 50 cents. It's 2.5 inches across and marked H Pomerantz Co NY on the back. You can barely see the clasp devices on the back. The owner didn't know about Pomerantz' unique design and thought something was broken on it. Isn't it about the most gorgeous 50 cent item you've ever seen?

Here's a small sample of what I've picked up over the last few months. The top bracelet of linked amber stone medallions is not marked but very well made and quite attractive. The stones are set in place by rolled edges. No prongs or glue here. The second little bracelet is marked .925 with open back tiny multi colored gem stones every other link. I'm not sure what the stones are on this one. The third one is a very slinky tennis bracelet composed of articulated darts set with dazzling rhinestones. It's marked Taiwan and this one's my favorite (OK they all are). Sparkly gets me every time though ! The last one is also marked .925 with alternating matte gold finished links. I like the lever clasps on the last three I think it shows quality and maybe a bit of age. -Mike-

Here's a vase I just received today. Bought it on etsy! I love this little one, it's shaped in a heart and goes with my green swans and the copper, green and gold pot I just got too! So happy with it.

The other 2 necklaces, really it's just one necklace I made, can't decide if I want the pink quartz heart or the black hematite heart on it. What's your thoughts??? The silver piece that covers the heart is from the 70's. It used to be a post earring.

Sherman Jewellery had it's debut in 1947 and this set of pieces each has the old mark in the oval which started in that year. Not exactly known when they changed to the other rectangular mark, but likely sometime in the early 1960's. This is a fine set to get so I was happy to win the bidding war. A delicate set, did not want to do much with the photos because it seems to ruin the colors too much.

There is a book now on Sherman Jewellery called The Masterpiece Collection, and it is filled with only the very best pieces and sets. Of course, from the authors I could have bought a lot of these pieces, but they wanted over 4000 for the best cuff bracelets. Sherman jewellery is highly collectible, especially the rarer pieces and colours. If you’re lucky you can find inexpensive pieces at flea markets or yard sales. If you purchase Sherman jewellery online you’ll probably pay within the hundreds if not thousands. However, Sherman brooches are more common and you can purchase those online anywhere from $40-150 depending.

Gustave Sherman died 1984

Gustave Sherman, a former jewellery salesman, set up his first factory in 1947 in Montreal, Canada. Sherman used his knowledge of the jewellery industry, design and techniques to create an amazing signature collection. Sherman costume jewellery was created from 1947 until the early 80s when the factory closed. During that time, his pieces were very popular and widely available at department stores here in Canada such as Eatons. Also he sold through some of the best jewelry companies in Canada such as Birks Jewelry and Peoples.

Many costume jewellery designers utilized rhinestones and cyrstals, but Sherman’s were unique. Sherman was actually the first designer who used top quality Swarovski rhinestones and cystals. You notice this straight off when you look at a Sherman piece, as the sparkling, multi-faceted stones really stand out. They sparkle so much they practically light up a room! Sherman produced a variety of pieces including necklaces, bracelets, brooches and earrings in a variety of colours. Pieces that are commonly found are necklaces, earrings and brooches. Sherman bracelets, on the other hand, are hard to find and much sought after.

The stones themselves can be either clear finish or coated stones called Aurora Borealis stones which seem to give a piece every color gleaming from the stones ! They also made Topaz Jewellery or Alexandrite jewelry. And then came the beads and finally the craze seemed to go by the eighties.

Signed vs. Unsigned
There is a large amount of unsigned pieces. A lot of the jewellery was made in sets, so it is possible to find earrings signed and large pieces such as necklaces and bracelets unsigned. The unsigned pieces are identical quality as to the signed. Also there are 2 signature types to the pieces, depending on years made. Recently I saw an unknowledgable antique dealer trying to say that Eatons sold only the unmarked pieces. Ridiculous ! That is totally false, as some of the best were not marked and they ended up at Jewelry stores also. Also I have heard it said that the bracelets are hardest to find, and so command the most money. On some of the sets that I have bought recently there was an old bill attached and I was surprised to see the brooch in that set sold for 30 dollars and the bracelet around 15 dollars.

Some of the men's jewellery they made such as cufflinks were made of real gold and are marked as such.

Simon Sez! "Joan Baez, ban the bra!, then ban the bomb!" and "Be-in, Black Power, Buds, Berkeley, Black Lights, Blow, Bad Trip!" and "Woodstock! Fillmore West and East!, Give peace a chance!, Do not flip out or freak out!, Richie Havens, Janis J. Bob D. Jimmy H. SIMON what about Australia? "Yes Vertraio, Wasn't he one of the three Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers?" I do not remember!!! "Then you were there!! "If you could remember, then you weren't there!" Hey toracat, almost 2 bottles of??? Maybe do not post this!! We may get banned! Blunderbuss, that other 60's guy almost got banned! toracat you need a haircut! bye

Hello I saw some cuff links in this same style while browsing on line and remembered that I had this item, I didn't even realise it was marked as I had not checked it out , I thought I would post in hope someone knows the maker.

Hello I am posting this necklace in the hope of finding how old it is and maybe who made it , I've looked for others and tried to find out more but have not come close yet, any help would be great,
Thanks

Lisner necklace from around 1950 silver plated, was from the estate of Lora V. Edgar ( my stepdads great uncle ) believe it probably was owned by Lora's sister but I dont know her name and thats all i know about it.

My friend gave me this clown brooch when her mom went into assisted living. Her mom bought this brooch when she was in high school, around 1947. The face is ceramic and has an aged crackle finish. The purple material is leather around the face and used for the hat. The pin is a "c" type, no locking mechanism and mounted on an unfinished wood oval. I have seen one other brooch with this clown face identified as Elzac but I am confused as to why there aren't any others to be found when I search. I know my friend's mother could use the money, so I may sell it for her if it is Elzac. Anyone out there know for sure if Elzac did produce clown brooches?
The clown is 3 1/2 inches long and 1 1/2 inches wide.

When I was 9 or 10 years old, my mom and I were temporarily separated while she tried to establish a home for a single mom, not an easy task for a woman in the late 50s or early 60s. I saw a necklace and jewelry set at a local store that I thought was so beautiful I had to buy it for my mom. I worked at odd jobs, trying to earn enough money to buy it for her and mail it from Michigan to Arizona. The last little bit of money that I needed was provided by my grandfather who gave me $30.00 for polishing his dress shoes. Mom passed away in September and as I was looking through her jewelry box, there it was, as beautiful and sparkly as ever. This set of HOBE jewelry consists of a 3-strand crystal necklace and a pair of round crystal clip on earrings.

I've added 3 more photos of the set because PhilDavid was correct. The original photo does not represent the crystals' color very well. They are kind of crazy though because they pick up so many different colors. Green is not predominate but colors depend on backgrounds and lighting. Can anyone tell me more about Mom's Hobe necklace and earrings? I am new to and naive about Hobe jewelry. I'm still that little girl who just thinks it's pretty!

**As a note, an great and booming business was created post WWII, in jewelry, housewares and all manner of wonderfully designed every day objects of Plexi glas, (*copyright 1933, Rohm & Haas, while Lucite, only a secondary product of Dupont (*copyright 1931) was not as nearly popular or used, although many items are now misidentified at Lucite.

Eisenberg ear climbers. Circa 1952-1956. One of my very favorite winning classic color combinations, in an unusual, dramatic presentation. Great MCM Hollywood fashion.
Not at all bashful, these are classic Eisenberg style. Love the big, bold mix of shapes, navettes, pear & rivoli. Black on black, with the sparkle of the bright channel set diamonte stones.

Screams the 1970's !! Was my Mom's and have some pics somewhere when she wore them to some functions in the 1970's. Not sure of the maker, as all they say on them is *Hong Kong*. Kinda have that Tie-Dye Vibe to them too.

These were my Mom and I remember admiring them as a kid. Coro Necklace and Earring Set. We used to call it *The Macaroni Necklace* as that is what it looked like to us Kids. Blood Red Moonstone with Silver-tone back. Marked CORO on the Necklace and the Earrings. I believe from the 1960's era. Was well loved, and worn. A lot of times the earring and the necklace got separated -- but so far -- I have managed to keep these here together. Great to have a Complete Matching Set !

I think I found this beautiful beaded choker at a rummage sale. I think the beads are glass but I'm really not sure. They remind me of Cat's Eye beads - some have a gold color glitter which looks like it is coming off of some of the beads. It measures 12 1/4" with a 3" extender and is stamped 'JAPAN' on the hook clasp. I absolutely fell in love with it and if I wore jewelry I would wear it.

This necklace was actually intended for the shop, but it looks so beautiful in real life that I had to keep it for myself! The chain is so unique with the four bezels, and the pendant is so intricate; truly one of a kind. I can't really tell whether the intaglio and bezels are pink or purple; they look kind of in between to me. Contrary to the larger-than-life pieces that I usually go for, this necklace looks rather delicate, which is perfect for daily wear. I've read somewhere that the intaglio is of cupid and Psyche, but I have no way of confirming this. Signed "Goldette" at the back of the pendant.

When I found this brooch I was drawn to it, and at 3 bucks the price was right. Now I have questions about its age and Era and maker because I'm not sure if it is even considered costume jewelry.
If anyone can help me with any info about my brooch i would be so happy!

I got this as set. The green box would be the original box with it. There was written on the box " Bill 1969". So somebody got it from her boyfriend/husband I guess. It has no label nowhere. I was wondering is anybody knew who made it and maybe what year?

Today i went to visit a friend that owns an antique/vintage store, and his mother offered me this necklace.
Since i'm not familiar with jewelry terms i would like your help describing and identifying this necklace to help me search for it.
Thanks for looking,
Pat

I purchased this at an estate sale years ago and cannot find examples of any other brooch that have such detailed work. There are leaves, scrolls, and a calla lily or trumpet flower around the ring. It is not marked with any identification. There are also rhinestone or real stones set within flowers. I love this pin and would like to determine exactly how old it is. The brooch measures 1 3/4 inches from terminal to top and 1 3/8 inches other direction. The pin is 1 1/4 inches long and the pin head is a larger loop measuring just over 3/4 inch. I thought this might be a new piece at first but the back side of pin head has lost some of the carved detailing and a rope trim circle is missing around one of the purple stones. It is a beautiful pin that looks great with scarves!

Hello I thought I would post these interesting earrings that I have as I have never seen another pair anywhere in the few years I've had them and hope someone knows more,they are porcelain I think.
Thanks

Hello I have these earrings that I have not got round to doing any thing with and have given them a quick clean and realised that they seem real gold and very old, i think they could be antique.
Thanks

Sherman Bracelet has a central row flanked on both sides by forty baguettes - The two outer rows have seventy-eight chatons . Plus more stones. It is a signed piece of Sherman. and came to me quite a while ago. Part of the collection which has been growing quite a bit since my first pieces, for the collection of my sister.

There is a book now on Sherman Jewellery called The Masterpiece Collection, and it is filled with only the very best pieces and sets. Of course, from the authors you can buy a lot of these pieces, but they want more than 4000+ for the best bracelets. Sherman jewellery is highly collectible, especially the rarer pieces and colours. If you’re lucky you can find inexpensive pieces at flea markets or yard sales. If you purchase Sherman jewellery online you’ll probably pay within the hundreds if not thousands. However, Sherman brooches are more common and you can purchase those online anywhere from $30-100 depending.

Gustave Sherman died 1984

Gustave Sherman, a former jewellery salesman, set up his first factory in 1947 in Montreal, Canada. Sherman used his knowledge of the jewellery industry, design and techniques to create an amazing signature collection. Sherman costume jewellery was created from 1947 until the early 80s when the factory closed. During that time, his pieces were very popular and widely available at department stores here in Canada such as Eatons. Also he sold through some of the best jewelry companies in Canada such as Birks Jewelry and Peoples.

Many costume jewellery designers utilized rhinestones and cyrstals, but Sherman’s were unique. Sherman was actually the first designer who used top quality Swarovski rhinestones and cystals. You notice this straight off when you look at a Sherman piece, as the sparkling, multi-faceted stones really stand out. They sparkle so much they practically light up a room! Sherman produced a variety of pieces including necklaces, bracelets, brooches and earrings in a variety of colours. Pieces that are commonly found are necklaces, earrings and brooches. Sherman bracelets, on the other hand, are hard to find and much sought after.

The stones themselves can be either clear finish or coated stones called Aurora Borealis stones which seem to give a piece every color gleaming from the stones ! They also made Topaz Jewellery or Alexandrite jewelry. And then came the beads and finally the craze seemed to go by the eighties.

Signed vs. Unsigned
There is a large amount of unsigned pieces. A lot of the jewellery was made in sets, so it is possible to find earrings signed and large pieces such as necklaces and bracelets unsigned. The unsigned pieces are identical quality as to the signed. Also there are 2 signature types to the pieces, depending on years made. Recently I saw an unknowledgable antique dealer trying to say that Eatons sold only the unmarked pieces. Ridiculous ! That is totally false, as some of the best were not marked and they ended up at Jewelry stores also.

Some of the men's jewellery they made such as cufflinks were made of real gold and are marked as such.

I have a box of jewelry set aside for posting to CW - and this was in here.
Contact paper over paperclip - 30" w/3" dangly pendant. At first I thought this was a 1970's DIY item but I guess it might be newer. Doesn't matter. I love it.

These are a couple of paper candy or gum wrapper necklaces I came across One a couple weeks ago and the other like a few days ago. The longer one with the various round and elongated beads I'm not for sure what kinds of wrappers they are but the other flat shaped one looks like candy or gum wrappers. It also looks Asian by some of the writing on the wrappers. They are flapper style, The flat one is about 44" with the round one about 60". neither one has a clasp. I have never before seen this kind of jewelry. anybody else ever see anything like these? I was not sure of the category so just put them in folk art because they looked handmade to me.

I have no clue to the background on this gorgeous set - only the name on the box it was stored in. If anyone has any idea, I would appreciate knowing more.

My mother recently passed away, and so I have this task of identifying special valuables that she had - much of ranges from gold to silver jewelry, and a lot of vintage costume as well. This also includes what she inherited from her mother as well. I believe this set to be from my Grandmother, Hanneliese Hoeft Thiel

My grandparents were from Berlin, Germany. They were also involved in the clock and jewelry business during World War II. I even have a photo of them standing in front of their shop. (I still have to find it)

Here's a fun piece I put together the other day. I have lots of beads, chain etc and this is one I came up with...

Since making my nieces wedding jewelry, all pearls, mostly vintage all the way from the 40's to the 70's, I've been wanting to do something with the rest of the beads etc. that I have. I could also say from Eisenberg to Weiss...and a touch of newer stuff here and there...Let's just see what I can come up with!

So, I thought this to be my contribution to "going green", I'm re-purposing as much of it as I can and using some creative energy at the same time.

Just a repost of some of my favorite vintage brooches that I only wear in the Autumn & Winter with my sweaters & coats. The quality today, to me, to copy these doesn't come close! I'm posting a few close - ups as well

I have this poinsettia brooch that looks like the leaves are poured glass and the leaves are enamel. The mark on the back is Copyright symbol with a TC next to it. Anyone know anything about the maker?

This is the latest addition to my plastic bangle collection. It is rather big - almost 4 inches and quiet heavy: more than 130 grams! It has some signs of wear when looked at with a magnifying glass and I am pretty sure that it has a bit of age. I am not too sure about the material. I think it is plastic but it could be something else.

It feels and looks cool. Too bad that I don't wear bangles in the winter much because they are hidden by the big sweaters and massive jackets!

These earrings have a beautiful turquoise clolour. They never where top quality but they have been kept in pretty good shape. All beads are present and without chips or cracks. The clip-on mechanism looks really old, possibly from the 50's or 60's, and seems to be made of brass. The earrings themselves are made of a silver looking material. There are marks on the back: 900 and the letters Y and B. I am not sure what that means but I am pretty certain that they are NOT silver. Could they be silver plated?

Hello all, I wanted to share this all glass ring I found in the 50 cent bin at the thrift shop. I'm easily amused and I love it. It is quite large with the widest part being more than half an inch. I will wear it, as it is exactly my size, love when that happens! Sorry about the pictures, forgive! Thanks for looking! Julie

Hello I thought I would post these items that I have had a few years and thought I would try and find out what's the best thing to do with them,? Sell as scrap , fix in the hope of getting a good price or garbage bin , I like them but they have seen better days.
Thanks

I've collected these pieces from various thrift's over the last few months. I found the spring loaded cuff bracelet a few weeks ago at our old local Salvation and thought the leaf theme matched a few other pieces I had. There are two sets of clip on's that I thought were good candidates. I'm leaning more toward one pair than the other. Which do you think would make the nicest complete set ? I'm sure there are some better matches out there but for the time being..... -Mike-

Excerpts from "Irving Wolf and Trifari, A View from the Top"
Courtesy of trifaricollection.com

When 25-year-old Irving Wolf joined Trifari in 1940, he probably had no idea that he would be its CEO by the time he retired in 1981. Prior to joining Trifari, he held a number of non-engaging jobs that he describes as "folding towels at Macy's and slicing baloney". His first job with Trifari came at the suggestion of his father.
Costume jewelry collectors and scholars have long been entranced by the fabulous designs that Alfred Philippe created for Trifari. Fans of his designs may have imagined that the man matched his creations in elegance and style, in the mode of Yves Montand, for example. But this was not the case. According to Irving Wolf and his wife, Ruth, Mr. Philippe was a short, chubby man with a black mustache and a thick French accent, closer in appearance to Alfred Hitchcock than the aforementioned Yves Montand. Mr. Philippe had come to Trifari from the world of fine jewelry, and brought this heightened sensibility to his costume jewelry designs. Even though, in most cases, his name appears on the patents, the design department was definitely a collaborative effort, and credit should be given to the other talented designers that worked with Mr. Philippe. Jean Paris worked under Mr. Philippe, and Andre Boeuf, who worked under Mr. Philippe starting in 1955, took over when Mr. Philippe retired in 1968.
The designer Diane Love worked with Trifari for about 3 to 4 years in the 1970's. She had earned a PhD in Art History at Columbia University, and was entranced by the art and artifacts that she saw in her travels. These were the inspiration for her designs that were manufactured by Trifari. Her designs were made in small quantities of 50 to 300 pieces. The pieces did not bear Diane Love's name. They did originally come with paper hangtags with her name. When asked about the collaboration between Trifari and Diane Love, Mr. Wolf characterized it as difficult.
One of the most significant pieces of information gleaned from Mr. Wolf will, hopefully, correct the widely held belief that Trifanium is the name for a special plating invented by Trifari. According to Mr. Wolf, and corroborated by Trifari plant manager, Alex Metcalfe (who took over from Gus Trifari), Trifanium is the name for a special alloyed casting metal used by Trifari to create the cast pieces for their jewelry. The Trifanium castings were then filed, polished, and plated.
Trifari developed its own plating solutions for both gold and rhodium colors. The gold plating solution contained real gold and was applied much thicker than industry standards. While some gold jewelry had a finish 1 millionth of an inch thick, Trifari's was 8 millionths of an inch thick. Rhodium, a rare metal found in conjunction with platinum ore, is difficult to work with but it provides a beautiful, non-tarnishing finish. In fact, it is sometimes used in the industry as a plating over sterling silver because of its non-tarnishing property.
Trifari felt that their plating solutions were superior to others on the market, and made them available to other jewelry companies. Rather than keep these solutions to itself, Trifari was more interested in raising product standards for the industry as a whole. Some of the companies that Mr. Wolf recalls selling these plating solutions to: Speidel, S. Rappaport Co., Brier Mfg., and Napier.
These plating solutions were quite expensive, which led to some nefarious activity by one customer's employee. Each bottle of plating solution had a unique stock number attached to it, and complete records were kept of every bottle sold. It came to the attention of Mr. Wolf that one customer's orders had doubled over the course of a year, so he called to investigate. He was informed that production had not increased, and so there was no logical explanation for the increase in plating solution purchases. Mr. Wolf devised a "sting" operation where someone was sent out to buy bottles of plating solution on the open market. The bottles purchased turned out to be ones that had been sold to the suspect account. An employee had been siphoning off the extra bottles and selling them on his own.
Trifari is responsible for some of the designs most coveted by serious vintage costume jewelry collectors. In particular, the pieces created during the period when Alfred Philippe led the design department. Mr. Wolf was privileged to be a part of this creative, and socially responsible, company, and we are privileged to learn about his experiences with the company through this interview.

Hello
This Coro brooch was given to me by my late Aunt. I've scoured the internet looking for information about this piece and have come up totally empty. It measures about 2" by 2 1/2". It's made of a silver metal material. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you

Very strange piece. This is what I can gather. This is a handmade coin pendant. I believe it to be silver. The larger coin is a Chile 1 Peso coin. But if you look closely at the middle you will see a 1894 1/2 Real from Guatemala. The outside of the coin has 1/4 Real coins. You will also see creatures which I have no idea what they are. It measures approximately 2 3/8 " in diameter and weights 48 grams.
Has anyone see anything like this? What kind of animals are these? Still a wonderful and strange piece.

More costume jewelry from childhood and I am just interested if someone know about these - I had a single piano teacher who gave me these items when she was at least 50 years old at the time. She gave me jewelry and handkerchiefs possibly because she had little family. It may not be worth much! Thanks!

Volunteer's of America is starting to get some really nice jewelry in for the holidays. This tiny Trifari bracelet is only about 3" in diameter. More like a tennis bracelet. The gold tone ribbon design is studded at intervals with little Amethyst colored flowers. The clasp carries the Trifari mark. I've seen these in pink stones as well but I think this is much nicer. -Mike-

Would like some info on this pair of clip on earrings. Both are marked twice..Valentino. What I would like to know is their age and any other information on them. The are very heavy and are about 1 1/4". The stones appear to be rhinestone or crystal???

I picked this beautiful vintage Judy Lee brooch -pendant up at GW's this morning. It's a nice size over 2" across and can be worn as a brooch or a pendant using the little loop on the back above the pin. It's composed of prong set oval milk glass "navettes" with a cluster of rhinestones holding a single milk glass cabochon in the center. The basket is rivet constructed and made of bright gold tone metal. It bears a very tiny "Judy Lee" mark in the center of the pin mounting. I saw a demi-parure set that had matching ear rings that were about the size of a quarter, not sure about a necklace though. I'll have to keep a look out for any matching pieces now that I know they're out there. -Mike-

Note: 12/4/2014
I remember seeing these clip on ear rings at Volunteers of America . While not the exact ones that go with the brooch from Judy Lee they are a great alternate match to say the least. Same milk glass "navettes" with aurora borealis crystals. No mark though but they could be Judy Lee as some pieces were never marked. -Mike-

I love this piece. Not marked. The rose seems to be made out of porcelain or some other type of material. Surrounded by stones. I would like to know more about this piece. When it may have been introduced and or made. I have added a picture to show size.

Very detailed throughout. I'm not sure what the stone is. It is missing a couple of stones, other than that in great condition. I would like to know more about this brooch. I know the person who owned it was born in the 1930's

This is a Cameo Intaglio Set. Brooch, earrings and Necklace. Each piece surrounded with rhinestones. If I am not correct in the description. Please correct me. Will like to know more about Warner marked Jewelry.

The marking was barely visible on the backside. The marking not imprinted deep like other jewelry markings. Is this an authentic piece. Will like to know more about this brooch.
I added the back side to show the mark.

Hello I thought I would show this bangle I have had for a few years now, never seen one the same but have seen similar crude ones but none nowhere as fine as this stunner, I would love to find out more and hope someone comes along,
Thank you

The only thing I can say about these earrings that they are very nice and wearable. The first pair are made of Chinese silver Cloisonné (inlaid enamel in silver with a patron of flowers). The second pair earrings are Vermeil (gold layer over Sterling silver) rose gold colored earrings with little pearls, rubies and sapphires.

The C Catch pin back fastener says 1800's and the rivited hinge pin back tells me cirka 1900. So my guess is that this is from the beginning of 1900's. It's made of bisque porcelain I Believe and it´s painted.
Some of the gold color has worn off unfortunately but I still Think its pritty with the flowers against the paleblue and black.

Hello I thought I would post these earrings that I like a lot in the hope of finding out more about them , I think they are very old but not sure how old, I think they are brass not sure what the black beads are made from.
Thanks

Hello I thought I would post this ring which I have cleaned a little and it looks a lot more interesting and hope someone has a idea how old it might be it seems to have gold over silver and not sure if the stone I real, it looks very old , any help would be great.
Thanks

Just wanted to share these crazy earrings...I think someone may have made these. They are quite large...maybe 31/2 inches. Lord knows I will never sport these, but the would be a conversation piece. I did check for marks but alas there were none.

For some time I have been looking for a way to display part of my Bond Boyd pin collection. When I found this shadow box, I decided to glue a new backing on the base. I used some burgundy velvet I bought many years ago. Originally, I wanted to use the material to sew curtains but this never happened.

This is one more pin to add to my collection. It is in mint condition and has CORO engraved in the back but it is hard to read. I have no idea about the age of this pin. Any help dating it would be greatly appreciated.

This is one of the most unusual pieces I have ever bought. It is very, very large; it's about 4 inches long. It is made of solid metal and finished with copper looking coating. It is also blackened, I guess to make it look more antiqued.
If I am correct, the pin was designed and made by Canadian artist D. Pollak. I found some info on line that suggests that he graduated from Sheridan College right here in Brampton, Ontario.
I am not sure if I ever will be brave enough to wear this pin, but who knows, if I find a cool looking sweater I might change my mind!

Well I am hoping for some guidance on this find from my favourite thrift shop here in Sydney, Australia. I suppose it is the magpie in me that was attracted to these necklaces. But the medium is the message!

They reminded me of my wood blocks as a kid.

Are they pre- or post- WWII?

'Wood turning' means Germany or Czech origin?

I just like the Bauhaus look of it all!

There are just three basic shapes - the creativity lies in the way they are threaded and decorated.

Greetings! I call on your knowledge one again friends, an identification, as minute as it may be, would be appreciated....the medallion has a coat of arms which I am at a loss to identify, the heavy link chain is clearly marked GERMANY. I have narrowed down the Pegasus/ "right angle sloped "CORO mark as the 1940's, A mystery to me. ( sorry, I couldn't resist...) Thank you all in advance for your collective knowledge and advice, it is always valued. J, NY

Glass in general and Glass jewelry especially was one of most exported items produced in Czechoslovakia.
Nice designs, bright colors and highest glass quality.
Some pieces of Czechoslovak glass jewelry are really mesmerizing!

Hello I thought I would post this ring I found which I find quite interesting, I gave it a little clean and it seems to have silver and copper and stones but some are missing , not seen anything like this before and hoping someone else has,or knows how old it could be or where it's from.
Thank you

In time for the holidays, I found this incredible little silver jewelry gift box at Salvation and I fitted it with a foam and red velvet insert. I'm not sure if it's real silver (no marks) but it was dull and lifeless until I polished it. The bow on top would have been bright gold but it is a bit worn with just hints of gold left on the top of the loops. It was too special for just one ring so I put all the real silver and one gold ring I had in my collection of costume jewelry in it. They are all nicely mounted with open backs behind the stones. From top to bottom .... An opal and two small diamonds (?) on a .925 silver band. A silver .925 buckle ring with gold accents and clear stones. A silver .925 ring with an oval stone (white sapphire?). A tiny 18kt gold engagement ring with a 1/4 carat diamond (pretty sure on this one). The bottom two are little silver .925 filigree rings. One with a tiny blue stone and the other has a pale green stone. While they are all marked for their metals, I'm not 100% sure about the stones except maybe the engagement ring. Tiny as it may be I do think it's real. -Mike-

I have a vintage gold-colored heart charm chain-link choker necklace made by Monet. I would like to know what era or year it might be from?

The whole necklace is approximately 15.5" long. It seems to be made out of brass or some gold plate. The left part of the pictured clasp says, "MONET" in all caps with NO "TM" or copyright symbol. The heart charm is hollow, not three-dimensional, but "cupped." Bought it at a Value World in Detroit. ;) My guess is '60s or '70s; wear seems vintage but in good condition.

This is interesting. Although the color is almost the same as the Bakelite buckle in my last post, the yellow part here is some kind of stone. It also may be glass, but it's quite heavy. Either way it has a nice deco design. No marks that I can find though. If anyone has seen one like this please let me know.

The necklace has a stamp on the back that says Kramer of New York. I was wondering if anyone has seen another necklace like this
I have found many Kramer but nothing like this. Would like to know about what year made. This necklace belonged to my Mother.

I believe this color of bakelite is called butterscotch or caramel swirl. I think it looks tasty. If I´m wrong about the color please give me info on the right name for this color. I red an articel where they showed the same color and said it´s one of the first colors used in Europe for bakelite. Don´t know if that´s right. The clasp (box) is made of brass or some other goldcolored metall together with an encolsed piece of bakelite.

Siam Red Sherman Bracelet, Marquise and Square Stones With Aurora Borealis To Some Stones. The back has been Jappaned which simply is a black process to the back of the bracelet metal.

Siam Red is one of the costliest stones to use and they are sold as such even now, after being made so many years ago. This bracelet is late 50's most likely.Part of a collection I am making for my sister, as it is something she would wear.

A bracelet with such dark stones is very difficult to photograph, so I was not too pleased with the photos. The bracelet looks much better in person viewing. I suppose about 99 % of these bracelets are coming from ebay in Canada, that is one good thing, as it saves from paying high postage and duties are non existant so far.

There is a book now on Sherman Jewellery called The Masterpiece Collection, and it is filled with only the very best pieces and sets. Of course, from the authors you can buy a lot of these pieces, but they want up to 4000 for the best bracelets. Sherman jewellery is highly collectible, especially the rarer pieces and colours. If you’re lucky you can find inexpensive pieces at flea markets or yard sales. If you purchase Sherman jewellery online you’ll probably pay within the hundreds if not thousands. However, Sherman brooches are more common and you can purchase those online anywhere from $30-100 depending.

Gustave Sherman

Gustave Sherman, a former jewellery salesman, set up his first factory in 1947 in Montreal, Canada. Sherman used his knowledge of the jewellery industry, design and techniques to create an amazing signature collection. Sherman costume jewellery was created from 1947 until the early 80s when the factory closed. During that time, his pieces were very popular and widely available at department stores here in Canada such as Eatons. Also he sold through some of the best jewelry companies in Canada such as Birks Jewelry and Peoples.

Many costume jewellery designers utilized rhinestones and cyrstals, but Sherman’s were unique. Sherman was actually the first designer who used top quality Swarovski rhinestones and cystals. You notice this straight off when you look at a Sherman piece, as the sparkling, multi-faceted stones really stand out. They sparkle so much they practically light up a room! Sherman produced a variety of pieces including necklaces, bracelets, brooches and earrings in a variety of colours. Pieces that are commonly found are necklaces, earrings and brooches. Sherman bracelets, on the other hand, are hard to find and much sought after.

The stones themselves can be either clear finish or coated stones called Aurora Borealis stones which seem to give a piece every color gleaming from the stones ! They also made Topaz Jewellery or Alexandrite jewelry. And then came the beads and finally the craze seemed to go by the eighties.

Signed vs. Unsigned
There is a large amount of unsigned pieces. A lot of the jewellery was made in sets, so it is possible to find earrings signed and large pieces such as necklaces and bracelets unsigned. The unsigned pieces are identical quality as to the signed. Also there are 2 signature types to the pieces, depending on years made. Recently I saw an unknowledgable antique dealer trying to say that Eatons sold only the unmarked pieces. Ridiculous ! That is totally false, as some of the best were not marked and they ended up at Jewelry stores also.

Some of the men's jewellery they made such as cufflinks were made of real gold and are marked as such.

Here are a couple of pieces with differences and similarities. Neither of them are marked. The colors are similar, as are the vintages (I think, anyway) The styles are different, other than one is a clip and one a pin. One other similarity? I kike them both! If anyone knows who made these, and when, I'd love to know. Thanks for looking!

My trip to Salvation Army yesterday to look for the other elusive Oscar feather earring from the other day was again disappointing. I poured over the two trays full with ton's of tiny earrings and came home with about a pounds worth for five bucks. Lot's of Trifari and Monet some silver and a few unknowns. I did however find these little gold tone shells by Oscar De La Renta. They are quite heavy for their size and marked inside with an oval plaque that simply says "Oscar". They were missing their fasteners so I scavenged a set but they don't quite match. Don't think it matters too much. These are not as valuable as the one that got away but I'm pleased I found them. -Mike-

Well, I thought this was Bakelite, so I picked it up for a friend that collects them. Even tho it's plain, I figured she might like it anyway.

As I looked at it, I see that it's translucent! So...what the heck is this bracelet made of??? Translucent? Is that the right word or should it be Transparent???

I don't have a black light, but would this be uranium??? It already sort of "glows". I have no idea, it doesn't "thud" when you tap it with your fingernail. It sort of "sings", almost like the difference between a crystal glass and a regular glass.

The first image is a KTF Philippe rhodium plated running horse. The next images are my running horse. I am wondering if this could be philippe prototype? The design is a little rougher, pave set rhinestone and invisible set baguettes. The mane is different. It's unmarked except that on the tail is scratched the numbers 1694151. Hmmm? It's not a patent. Although, maybe it was a tentative patent # that was never used, since that patent # is from 1928.

Can anyone give me more information on this piece. Particularly it's differences from the KTF horse?

I acquired this neat little brooch recently and don't know who might have made it or when. It appears to be sterling and rhinestone and measures 7/8" on one side, has a C-clasp, stones appear pave set and has a jewelrs number on the back.

I bought this brooch (?) some time ago . I thought it was unusual. It originally came from a boutique in Clark Street, Chicago.

For a brooch it is quite large measuring 4 inches across. It is fastened with "pins" that have to be thrust through fabric and then little caps are placed over these pins. (Could be quite dangerous close to the heart!!).

The whole image looks as if it has been cut out in one piece : no joins of any sort .

I don't know what the material is. It's not marked but the "silver" is untarnished.

On the reverse is a signature I cannot fully make out. The Christian name is Rita and the surname starts with the letters Sch.....

Do you know this designer, please? I'd love to know who she is and perhaps see more of her creations.

The pendant was initially up for sale at my shop, but it was so pretty and I could not bear to part with it. I told myself I'd keep it if I could find the original chain; I guess I am really lucky! The large pendant is in the form of a coiling snake with deep green guilloche enameling on the body, rhinestone accents on the head, and a gold stripe that runs through the body like its backbone. The snake's head is lifted a little, giving the pendant more dimension. The gold chain is long, consisting of ribbed cylindrical beads. Signed "JOMAZ" behind the pendant. Possibly the most menacing-looking piece I have in my personal collection now, haha!

I am an avid collector of Vintage Costume Jewellery & have been collecting for over 12 years. I had recently acquired a lovely set with all pieces (both brooch & earrings) marked with a maker's mark I am unfamiliar with. It looks as though it is a capital letter 'B' within a 'Shield / Crest'. I have spent many hours / days researching & have had no luck whatsoever in finding the least of information for this particular maker & their mark. The set is in excellent condition. No flaws to the blue glass cabochons.
I hope someone may be of further assistance in possibly being able to identify the marks.
Thankyou.

More sorting produced this lovely Oscar De La Renta clip earring but not it's mate. It's signed "Oscar De La Renta" in script inside a little oval on the back. I usually wouldn't think too much about it until I noticed a pair on Ebay going for $235.00 "Buy it now" with an opening bid of $135.00 !! A silver pair were selling for only $78.00. My friend doesn't know this yet, but she promised to keep a look out for it after I left this morning. It could have been scooped into a grab bag already and sold but I'm hoping it will turn up. I'll know tomorrow morning... Fingers crossed ! -Mike-

Hello I thought I would post this bracelet that I have had a quite a while and still never found out any info about it or seen another , I posted it on here a long time ago but have cleaned this a little since then.any help would be great.
Thanks

not sure of the year this was made. is hallmarked and is gold filled. beautiful expandable band. don't know anything else about it. it was a gift

]]>Costume Jewelry / Lisner Costume Jewelryhttp://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/140771-lisner-braceletehttp://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/140771-lisner-braceleteChanel did a line that looks like this necklace in the early 80s, this is unmarkedhttp://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/140770-chanel-did-a-line-that-looks-like-this-n
Mon, 17 Nov 2014 13:25:41 -0800

Can anyone who is familiar with Chanel confirm if this is Chanel? It has no markings. They did a line of gripoix that led me to think this could possibly be the real thing. any feedback would be fantastic. I love this piece, it is very heavy and can be worn with the stones on the side or in the center.

I added a picture of the underside, hopefully it shows enough to help. I am happy to take more pictures

Thought I would post this here of an old necklace my Mom had bought from those home parties. This company was called CELEBRITY JEWELRY and they had Home parties -- Much like the way Tupperware home parties were handled.

This piece is Big, and chunky -- and the style from the 70's. You can see the size of the necklace part in comparison to the Earrings for it

I bought this set only because it is in perfect shape. I cannot see any wear whatsoever. However, it is not really my taste. I added it to my collection but I will probably never wear it. My husband says it looks like Christmas. Well, I guess it could be.
The set is not marked but I think it might date back to the 1980's.

Took a quick run out to Volunteer's this afternoon. I usually don't go on Sunday's but tomorrow's weather is suppose to be miserable. Another bout of lake effect with warnings from 9PM tonight till 9AM tomorrow. It's really too early for this but that's Ohio weather on the lake shore. The trip was worth it though because I found this little beauty. It's signed Coro on the pin mount and the basket along with a Pat. Pend. mark as well. Little faux pearls surround a cluster of aurora borealis crystals in shades of amber, red and green all attached to a bright gold mounting. Stunning ! -Mike-

This is a Rare & Unusual Sherman Brown and Aurora Borealis Cabochon Bracelet, complete with matching earrings. Very much like the last one I posted only in an brownish colour to offset the aurora borealis stones.

This is the actual set of bracelet and earrings which were in the book "Sherman Jewellery, The Masterpiece Collection" which were sold to me by the original author, Sandra Caldwell.

Have added the photos from the heavens above effects. The collection is eventually going to my sister to enjoy.

There is a book now on Sherman Jewellery called The Masterpiece Collection, and it is filled with only the very best pieces and sets. Of course, from the authors you can buy a lot of these pieces, but they want up to 4000 for the best bracelets. Sherman jewellery is highly collectible, especially the rarer pieces and colours. If you’re lucky you can find inexpensive pieces at flea markets or yard sales. If you purchase Sherman jewellery online you’ll probably pay within the hundreds if not thousands. However, Sherman brooches are more common and you can purchase those online anywhere from $60-250 US depending.

Gustave Sherman - died in 1984

Gustave Sherman, a former jewellery salesman, set up his first factory in 1947 in Montreal, Canada. Sherman used his knowledge of the jewellery industry, design and techniques to create an amazing signature collection. Sherman costume jewellery was created from 1947 until the early 80s when the factory closed. During that time, his pieces were very popular and widely available at department stores here in Canada such as Eatons. Also he sold through some of the best jewelry companies in Canada such as Birks Jewelry and Peoples.

Many costume jewellery designers utilized rhinestones and cyrstals, but Sherman’s were unique. Sherman was actually the first designer who used top quality Swarovski rhinestones and cystals. You notice this straight off when you look at a Sherman piece, as the sparkling, multi-faceted stones really stand out. They sparkle so much they practically light up a room! Sherman produced a variety of pieces including necklaces, bracelets, brooches and earrings in a variety of colours. Pieces that are commonly found are necklaces, earrings and brooches. Sherman bracelets, on the other hand, are hard to find and much sought after.

The stones themselves can be either clear finish or coated stones called Aurora Borealis stones which seem to give a piece every color gleaming from the stones ! They also made Topaz Jewellery or Alexandrite jewelry. And then came the beads and finally the craze seemed to go by the eighties.

Signed vs. Unsigned
There is a large amount of unsigned pieces. A lot of the jewellery was made in sets, so it is possible to find earrings signed and large pieces such as necklaces and bracelets unsigned. The unsigned pieces are identical quality as to the signed. Also there are 2 signature types to the pieces, depending on years made. Recently I saw an unknowledgable antique dealer trying to say that Eatons sold only the unmarked pieces. Ridiculous ! That is totally false, as some of the best were not marked and they ended up at Jewelry stores also.

Some of the men's jewellery they made such as cufflinks were made of real gold and are marked as such.

This is a rare Sherman Bracelet I found to give to my sisters collection in time. For now I will keep these pieces so I can give a good collection all at once. She does not collect but does wear them and looks good with them on. I gave her the first one she had when she was here in September, she wore it all the time. She did not wear the brooch which was I guess a bit too much for her. I recently saw the necklace to match but was not forsightful enough to win the bid, due to funds and strategy. The bracelet I won due to someone elses misery to lose. For more on Sherman and his jewellery, please see my other posts which give more information on the history of this firm.

This one is identical to one pictured in the book "Sherman Jewellery, The Masterpiece Collection" which only shows the rare pieces. This one, I feel, is nicer than the one in the book, as it has greyish stones to set off the Aurora Borealis stones. But sometimes a bit of luck comes my way, and the actual one in the book may become mine !~The grey stones look more like a deep blue on this piece and are more intrically set than I have ever seen on any Sherman Bracelet. The bracelet does not seem too made for wearing as it would have really caught on sweaters which were popular at the time this piece was made. There are numerous levels for the stones and the smaller Marquis cut stones are the sharp ones. It really is to me one of the most astonishingly intricate pieces for Sherman to produce !~

Hello I thought I would post this bracelet that seems to be brass iam not sure of the age or what the faceted coloured parts are made of of, looking for help from someone that knows about these bracelets.
Thanks

These earrings (unmarked) are made of pot metal and the screws are brass. Two of the rhinestones are missing but I have the replacement stones and will glue them when I have some time over the Christmas holidays.
I love how they sparkle!

Hello I have this very unusual necklace that I am hoping someone can tell me more about it sounds like little bells and cannot work it out as to how old it might be or who would wear it, but a lot of work has gone into it.
Any help would be great
Thanks

Hello I thought I would post these interesting looking large earrings that I have and am hoping someone can help me with how old they are ,have given a little clean but not seen a pair like these before so any help would be great.
Thanks

Hello I thought I would post this ring which has a stone missing and I saved from going in the bin, you would be surprised by what some folks regard as trash, I wonder if anyone who knows about jewellery can help with more info on this unusual ring. 2 1/4 inch in length looks like it was silver over copper, not attracted to a magnet . Any help would be great I think it looks deco maybe??

Hello I have these earrings that are the only pair I've come across , they seem porcelain and hand painted not sure what the blue stone is , and I am hoping someone has seen or knows more about these earrings and can help please.
Thanks

Hello I thought I would show this necklace that I have had for a while it seems like some kind of plastic beads not sure how to describe it really. And not sure how old it could be, I have cleaned it up a Bit to get a good look at it,any help would be great
Thanks

Has anyone seen a brooch like this before? The stones appear to be cast in place. It's sparkly and vibrant... very pretty. Has a new look to it, so it may not be old jewelry, but if anyone has any clues as to who the designer/manufacturer might be, I would be grateful. Thank you.

Hi, I wondered if anyone can tell me anything about this piece. The basse taille enameling seems to be common in vintage jewelry, but I'm just not sure if this is vintage. The stones are glued in and appear to be either crystals or glass. I'm grateful for any clues at all! Thank you :)

A vintage stamped silvered metal motif + cold enamel.
Another try!
Though this enamel paint is supposed to dry by itself, I prefered to put it in the oven at 75 degree for 1h to harden it faster.
Result not so bad, but if it was for a restore, matching colors with existing is much more difficult ;-)

Does anyone know what this pin is. It has 3 baby rings hanging on it.
it has 6 Crystals on it and one baby ring has a crystal ,one ring is plain and the other has a missing stone. measures 2 in. across.
Back of pin is plain no markings.

Bought this necklace at an auction this spring, neither my wife or I had noticed it prior to the start of the sale. When they held it up you could see it sparkling from across the room.
It is marked Austria on the back.
If anyone has info on this piece I would love to here about it.

1930's-40's Celluloid ring in my favorite earthtone colors: honey, amber and 2 shades of green. These were home hobby and also prison projects. Nice 1-1/4" size. I was able to get this ring for less than $15 because of its damage. Can my expert friends help me with advice? As it is now it's too fragile to wear.

Hello I thought I would post this pendant I found which I like a lot and am hoping someone can help with more info about it as I have not come across one before, I am thinking it could be jade or something similar ? Any help would be great, I also have no idea of age or where it's from.
Thanks

Hello I thought I would post this nice necklace in the hope someone knows a bit about it, I think it's silver but not marked i have no idea how old it is or what the stones are,any help would be great.
Thanks

Hello I am hoping for help with this bracelet that I have never come across another in the few years I have had it, never had any info from anyone that knows more,so thought I would give it a last try.
Thank you

This is one of my weekend finds. It is a large, solid ring with a yellow stone. The stone is nicely cut. I don't think it is glass. I searched several times for markings but even after cleaning off the patina, I could not find anything at all. I tried a magnet, too, but it is not magnetic. If it is a costume piece, it has been very well made. I believe the ring has some age, but I am at a complete loss.
Any ideas about the ring would be greatly appreciated.

The painted celluloid bird (1-1/2") was attached to an ashtray at the foot (maybe 50's or 60's?) and the ring is a marriage of a lovely old 30's celluloid button glued onto a 50's red bakelite ring.

Both these items weren't in perfect shape so I felt it was okay to up-cycle them. And they are just for me. I will enjoy wearing them.

The bird had a broken foot and needed to be built back up again with grout. Now he's on my tiny 3mm black onyx bead necklace.

The top rectangle of the 1"x1/2" ring is actually a button. It was dirty and dark and chipped so I didn't think it would hurt to buff it clean w/simichrome and my dremel. I was surprised that it was 2 colors - a pretty deep opaque brown and translucent applejuice. Then I removed the button base bottom and glued to the red 1950's bakelite ring

Hello I thought I would post these earrings that I have not cleaned yet and am wondering how old they could be , I have not come across these before but the condition tells me they are very old, I guess they will be brass under all the grime , but hope someone knows more and is able to help.
Thanks

Hello I thought I would post this brooch that I have as I am hoping to find out more about it, I think it's hand painted enamel but need a little help from anyone that knows more and is able to help.
Thanks

This brooch has tiny coins around one larger one in the center. The top part of the coins have a lady's face although I am unsure who it is (I am not familiar with coins). The back of the coins depict a man with a three horse chariot. It appears they are going off to battle. The writing looks like Greek letters, but I can't be sure. The pin stem seems to be silver and is stamped "AA". The metal coins are not magnetic. The glass centerpiece on the back is interesting, and I recently found out that it opens when I slid a knife blade into the side and opened it ... So, my question is, what is this glass centerpiece for? What would someone store in this? Is there a specific name for this type of brooch? I have seen mourning jewelry where a lock of hair could be kept in the jewelry, but this brooch seems different. Does anyone know about the mark? Thanks for looking!

Hello i thought I would post this bracelet that I've found as I have not come across one before and am hoping someone can tell me more about it. seems gold plated,
stones look nice and like a lot of work has gone into making it.
Thanks

Found a little piece of Australia today at Volunteer's. I noticed this small kangaroo stick pin's original price was a bit high for my liking, however today it was only half price so I figured it was worth it. It's not even gold or marked and I think the stone may be real just lesser quality. I've seen these online attached to little white cards "a la" souvenir and marked Australia so I think that's what this might be. -Mike-

I love these old necklaces. I beileve these are bakelite. My child suggested I should screw them together to one great long necklace. What I great idea that would have been if the screws would have been the same sice!

This new one is 50 cm streached out (open) which is 19.68 inches. The one I had before is 46 cm which is 18,11 inches.

Could´nt help myself when I found another of these barrelbead necklaces that I love. It´s quite similar to the other one I have, just a little longer and more orange in color then the other one I have. I believe these are bakelite necklaces, probably made in europe. The screws are different from the ones I´ve seen on this type of necklaces here on CW that I suppose are American. These screws are made of metall, brass I belive. I think this one has been restrung at some point and my other one has the original thread.

I love this bracelet - carved celluloid plastic bangle with a pretty pastel grape overdye on half (pics are dark sorry). The opening 2.5", is .5" wide and the carving is domed and thick about 3/8". The plastic isn't brittle so it isn't cheaper 70's onward plastics. A hot pin test was done inside to see if it's bakelite - no. I don't smell burnt milk either. No seams and the carving is detailed and thick. It was sold as celluloid so unless anyone knows more that's what I believe. I think this is a 1950's example but I'm not sure and haven't seen one like it so please comment if you know.

Bakelite, celluloid, galilith, Lucite, resin, cinnabar, etc! Some of these plastics for jewelry became popular in the 1920's and the others continue to this day.

Newest purchase - nice 1920-30's 1/4" wide bangle had some missing rhinestones but because the existing rhinestones weren't dark I think this is a better quality piece (or maybe not worn much?). Glued in replacements from my vintage stash but not all fit perfectly.

I bought it with the 3-1/4"x1-1/2" shaped leaf pin. The rhinestones here are in different conditions of age and oxidation so I'm just going to glue in some colored ones - whatever fits.

This necklace seems to be a bit of a mixture.
It was sold to me as antique, what fascinated me was the double chains on the necklace, which appear to be old and silver.
The rest I'm not sure of, the solid parts seem to be castings and the metal is very soft, by accident I broke one of the rings attached to the casting off with ease. The bezels with the peridot, glass, and small opaque stones with in the flowers looks shabby from the back, but the chains between the castings are very well made, they also look a different colour, same as the double necklace chain.
I would be very interested if anybody could throw some light on this.
Many thanks for looking.

Hi all,
I bought this necklace couple of weeks ago as a genuine FURLA brand from an antique market in Nice-France. It is beautiful large and chunky black beads with the sequence of dull and shine. It is heavy and with total weight of 251 grams. From the internet Furla is an Italian company that was created by the Furlanetto family over 80 years ago in 1927. According to the antique dealer is made of Bakelite but none of us know the age of this necklace and would like to know if possible how old it is. I have seen many of their current products but none like it.
I would appreciate any help or advice.
Kind regards to you all
Faisal

This Sherman Bracelet is one that I have saved in a collection to give to my sister when I finish collecting these for her. Sherman Jewellery was made by Gustave Sherman, one of the top-notch costume jewelers in the 1950s, located in Montreal, Canada. The color of this bracelet's stones is clear and grey colored rhinestones which can pick up some colour depending on light and conditions.

Sherman Costume Jewelry first came onto the scene in 1947. He started with one employee, Hungarian jeweler Jimmy Koretza, an expert craftsman who help make Sherman’s exquisite designs a reality. There is a book now on Sherman Jewellery called The Masterpiece Collection, and it is filled with only the very best pieces and sets. Of course, from the authors you can buy a lot of these pieces, but they want up to 4000 for the best bracelets. Sherman jewellery is highly collectible, especially the rarer pieces and colours. If you’re lucky you can find inexpensive pieces at flea markets or yard sales. If you purchase Sherman jewellery online you’ll probably pay within the hundreds if not thousands. However, Sherman brooches are more common and you can purchase those online anywhere from $30-100 depending.

Gustave Sherman

Gustave Sherman, a former jewellery salesman, set up his first factory in 1947 in Montreal, Canada. Sherman used his knowledge of the jewellery industry, design and techniques to create an amazing signature collection. Sherman costume jewellery was created from 1947 until the early 80s when the factory closed. During that time, his pieces were very popular and widely available at department stores here in Canada such as Eatons. Also he sold through some of the best jewelry companies in Canada such as Birks Jewelry and Peoples.

Many costume jewellery designers utilized rhinestones and cyrstals, but Sherman’s were unique. Sherman was actually the first designer who used top quality Swarovski rhinestones and cystals. You notice this straight off when you look at a Sherman piece, as the sparkling, multi-faceted stones really stand out. They sparkle so much they practically light up a room! Sherman produced a variety of pieces including necklaces, bracelets, brooches and earrings in a variety of colours. Pieces that are commonly found are necklaces, earrings and brooches. Sherman bracelets, on the other hand, are hard to find and much sought after.

The stones themselves can be either clear finish or coated stones called Aurora Borealis stones which seem to give a piece every color gleaming from the stones ! They also made Topaz Jewellery or Alexandrite jewelry. And then came the beads and finally the craze seemed to go by the eighties.

Signed vs. Unsigned
There is a large amount of unsigned pieces. A lot of the jewellery was made in sets, so it is possible to find earrings signed and large pieces such as necklaces and bracelets unsigned. Most usual you never know which piece even from a set which will be unsigned. The unsigned pieces are identical quality as to the signed. Also there are 2 signature types to the pieces, depending on years made. Recently I saw an unknowledgable antique dealer trying to say that Eatons sold only the unmarked pieces. Ridiculous ! That is totally false, as some of the best were not marked and they ended up at Jewelry stores also.

Sherman Jewellery was one of the best things to come out of Canada, although there are other items such as the airplane standing ashtray which first appeared also in later 1947, along with a collection of outstanding cobalt blue mirrors with beautiful design elements which I also have collected and found out some secrets of their uniqueness.

Years ago I used to use the rhinestones in jewellery, especially the large ones, to make crafts from them. I would make large flys and bees, and dragonflys from many of the parts. I learned early though from my mistakes and some pieces were more than a shame to break for the sake of a craft. I would have bought the crystal insects from an artist friend but she would only sell one or two pieces to one person. She considered it hoarding otherwise. Luckily she taught me how to make my own so I could have a large web of them. Many were made from chandalier crystals also, which I preferred to use, as they were really plentiful at the time, I could buy a chandalier anywhere it seemed for 5.00.

One of the new collectibles that I decided to get a collection going is Sherman Jewelry. I have a book now on the subject and the purpose of my collection will be to leave it to my sister Melinda. I hope to keep it going for several years until I give her the whole collection. I gave her a bracelet last month. She wore it every day when she was here, but will be off when she goes to work.

A friend I used to know from Toronto quite well used to sell a lot of these items, and I got to see a number of them he picked up at the sales we attended. He sold many through his stores in Toronto and New York and specialized in Jewelry and deco items. He came to many of the large shows in Canada and usually purchased a trunk to take them all back with him. At the time in the 90's, some pieces could be had for a couple dollars.

This is a German "hunters" hat pin. - Made in Germany, circa 1940's.
Made of pewter with a long pin closure on the back - maker unknown
Depicts a bird (possibly European grouse), a hunting rifle, oak leaves, and a "dangle" with two ivory color pieces of unknown material.

Found the pink 1960s earrings at a vintage fair.
The other bits in charity shops.
The green earrings are funky too,i think theyr 1960s also.
The blue earrings may be Judy Lee.
The little watch is a Condor one,the barrel closes together.
Not sure about the little broach but its very sweet :)

How many times have I promised myself not to buy anything less than perfect?! I have broken my own rules again for this vintage pin (it cost me almost nothing so I didn't feel too bad). When I saw it, I just decided that I am going to repair it. As you might see, a few of the green rhinestones are missing or lost their luster. One clear rhinestone is missing, too. I have matching green and clear stones from a vintage pin that I kept for "spare parts" but I am not sure if I should rather replace all of the green stones, even the ones that look ok so that there will be no difference visible what so ever.

Jakob Bengel art deco machine age necklace.
It´s made of metall and I belive green galalith beads and something I call "twisted chain knots". It shows age and has some wear and tare and some of the crome has been worn off, but I still think this is a great and stylish necklace. I´ve seen this type of knot on some photos of Jakob Bengel necklaces and asked the question here if this could be a Bengel necklace? I´m greatful for Bettys help with this. I love this piece, so different from my other jewelry. I belive this is from the 1930's.

I´m not sure if this is an aurora borealis necklace or something else. It´s much heavyer than I´m used to and the style doesn´t look 1950's to me. The necklace is 52 cm long (20,47 inches) when worn (112 cm full lenght) and weighs about 82 grams. The pearls are on a chain and it has a metall filigree clasp with some sort of crystal in the middle.

This is most likely a chrystal glass czech necklace. I've seen a brooch post here on CW with details similar to the the ones on the clasp. This leads me to believe this necklace is also czech.

Hello. I got these from an estate sale. What I know about them is that it seems to be enamel. It measures approximately 1 1/2" in length. It is stamped "Made In Czechoslovakia." The detail is wonderful. If you look closely you will see actual wire strings. It is not stamped silver and I don't believe is. It has a c hook on the back. I can't seem to find out anything on these. Was curious as to how old they may be. If it is a c-hook does that make it around 1900? I have maybe 20 of these in 5 different colors. Again the detail is great. Any info would be appreciated.

I once owned four black cats at one time and all the neighbors thought
I was weird - so I thought - Why not buy a black cat pin too!!! This is
a cute little glass cat with white glass eyes. Just in time for Halloween....

This Little Stamped Goldplated Brass Brooch is impossible to find! It is approx. 1 1/2" tall,
I thought it might be a Society or Membership brooch, she is wearing a cloak ,holding a book, and pointing skyward. It appears to be marked
LOC3 on the back very small on the backside . Any ideas??

This little beauty in in desperate need of some TLC. Someone tried to replace some stones and did a dreadful job! I bought it anyway because I was fascinated by the ingenious mechanism on the back. I believe with a bit of time and patience I will be able to restore it to its former glory.

Hello all, this ring was bought at a parking lot sale. I couldn't capture the mark, but it is marked pat. (I assume patented) and it also has an m with arrows pointing toward the m from both directions. I believe the stones are paste and I have no idea if sterling. Any help is appreciated with this ring as I haven't seen a ring with pat. before. It is so light, it almost feels like from a gumball machine. I just like to know. I understand the pics are not great. Thanks for looking! Julie

I wish I had the rest that belonged to this dress clip! I believe this is one of a pair of dress clips (part of a duet). There must have been a frame to fasten both pieces too. The patent (1852188)on the back goes back to 1932. When assembled, the two dress clips must have been quite impressive - the one I have is just a bit shy of 3 inches.

I don't know anything about this bangle other than it seems to be well made and in excellent condition. I found one on line with the same pattern claiming to be from the 1930's. I am not sure about my bangle being that old. Nowadays there are so many copy cats out there that, in my humble opinion, it becomes harder and harder for an amateur collector like me to determine if it is a vintage item for sure or just a copy.

Usually I prefer larger pieces but this one got my attention. I looks so pretty and sparkles a lot in the sun. I looks almost identical to one I found on line that was made by Coro, except the clasp is different.

It almost looks like a snowflake, not that I am looking forward to seeing them any time soon:(

I was trying hard to capture the sparkle of the pin - but I failed:(
This is a rhinestone pin by a Canadian maker (I have not done any research but I believe they are no longer in business). Most of its items are well made, but I believe that they are not very much appreciated by collectors.

I love old and glamorous jewelry. I believe this pair of art deco dress clips meets that category. The clips are about 2 3/4 inches long and about 1 1/2 inches wide, so when they are worn side-by-side they add up to an impressive 5 1/2 inches. I believe that they were made around the 1930's.

I got to pick through the box of tangled necklaces at Salvation the other day while helping my friend sort things out. Out came this Trifari choker in a goldtone "Trifanium" leaf pattern. I've seen these in many different designs and colors and as part of a set but sadly there was nothing else. It's in nice condition but is missing the tiny little ball at the end of the chain extension. It's articulated every few links to help it lay flat against the neck line and it's quite heavy. There is a very tiny "Trifari" mark on the underside of the clasp. -Mike-

While I was at auction on Saturday, there was a jewelry box full of jewelry and other items and they sold it as a lot but we couldn't look inside! So being the crazy curious person I am I had to own it and see what was inside. I found this necklace inside but I can't really tell anything about it other than they are old. With the safety clasp I was think they were real, but I don't know for sure, it also appears that one of the pearls on the clasp was replaced. Can anyone help me with this one?

Salvation Army produced my find for today thanks to my in store connections. My friend told me to wait a minute and returned with this beauty. I would have bought it even if it wasn't marked. Although the mark is hard to read unless magnified. I figured out after I got home that it read 18K GP (plated white gold). Some of the copper base is showing through the outside back of the band so it was priced at $3.99. It was half price day so I got it for an unbelievable two bucks and tax ! I'm never sure about the stones in these rings, but it is large probably a few carats. It looks like a citrine or topaz in color. Sparkles like crazy too. One of the prongs is bent back a bit so the stone rattles when you shake it. Don't know if it's worth taking to the jeweler's to have it tightened. I would never try to do it myself for fear of cracking the stone. -Mike-

I took an updated shot of my bake bangle collection to share, still managed to leave out about 8 though, doh.
I've got a few more reverse carved and plain prystals, 'peanut butter' swirls, and finished reinstating rhinestones into the Pierrot piece second stack from left.
Bangle power!

I am looking for any information about this set. They are (ostensibly) earrings but they're highly unusual, and I wouldn't be surprised if they were something ceremonial. I have spent over a year looking for information and so far five different experts have told me they were at a loss or it was outside their realm of experience. If anyone has seen anything like them please let me know! I doubt they're worth anything but I really want to find out something about them.

I bleach tested the metal part and I don't think it's silver but it certainly looks like it. The clear part is some sort of lucite/acrylic/plastic thing. If it weren't for that I would have put them pre-1940s. The filigree seems far too well done for a pair of throwaway plastic earrings. If this makes sense, they just feel old.

In any case, know nothing about them and would appreciate any feedback! They seem too large for jewelry, but no idea what else they could be.

These beautiful ear rings came from Volunteer's of America as well as the Russian lacquer trinket box they're sitting on. Thanks to an old Ruby Lane auction I found a great picture but no price as they had already sold. I had hoped to get more info about their exact composition but the description was already removed. The ear rings have a "C" scroll shape with a gold vermeil finish. Nestled in the center of each is an oval faux emerald with two "peacock" aurora borealis crystals. They are screw back and the Lisner copyright mark is stamped on the head of each screw. They date to after 1955 according to the mark guide on the "Illusion" jewels costume jewelry website. The little Russian lacquer box is not that old but it is signed by the artist and dated 1991. -Mike-

Lisner History

Coutesy of
lillysvintagejewelry.com
guyotbrothers.com

David Lisner and Company was founded in the early 1900s in New York City. Lisner was a manufacturer and wholesale of jewelry and novelties. The mark Lisner with block letters was first used in 1959. They made a wide variety of jewelry from top of the line to average everyday pieces. In the 1970's they were listed as Lisner-Richelieu Corporation.
Over the last two years, Lisner jewelry has spiked in value. In October 2006, a Lisner red maple leaf parure, comprising a necklace, bracelet and earrings achieved a record price on E-bay for $610! There are numerous variations of Lisner leaf jewelry. There are at least 15 colors and color variations of the maple leaf set alone! The resin leaves have over a dozen different shapes! There are even multiple varieties of resin flowers! Some of the colors and shapes are quite rare and difficult to find, but it makes hunting for them all the more enjoyable! Recently, some fakes have entered the marketplace, in the form of poorly constructed floral and Christmas tree pins. There are often multiples of these items for sale on E-bay, which can be a warning that these items may not be genuine. Presently, there have been no reproductions made of the ‘jelly’ plastic Lisner jewelry.
Collectors are now appreciating Lisner fashion jewelry for its mid-century modern appeal. Unlike some of Lisner’s competitors, the jewelry the company produced in the 1950s and 1960s looks timeless and modern, with clean, sharp edges. (The Lisner jewelry pictured here was produced in the 1950s and 1960s.) Lisner jewelry has an abstract, geometric sensibility with designs that are often derived from nature, incorporating leaves, fruits and flowers. The jewelry of the mid-century can often be fussy and overdone. Victor Ganz’s daughter, Kate Ganz Belin remembers her father’s keen sense of fashion and good taste. “He tried to get away from the Mamie Eisenhower thing,” she said. Lisner jewelry captures the spirit of the age in a different way from the styles of Coro and Trifari jewelry from the same period. The enterprising David Lisner would be proud that his ancestors produced such classic costume jewelry that we still admire over twenty years since it was last produced.

My mother had several vintage Trifari pieces, of which I inherited. This is the only piece that eludes me. I have searched every website containing every keyword I can think of, yet I cannot find another like it! I do know that it was produced between the late 50's and late 60's, because of it's maker's mark, in that it's stamped with the crown above the (T)rifari, with the copyright symbol at the end of Trifari. I have been called, by some of my counterparts, " obsessive " in my collecting business because I have the absolute need to know the history, i.e., maker, dates, where they were made, etc., and I always say... that's what being a collector is about! So, I guess I'm wondering why, out of approximately 3,ooo or more Trifari images that I've looked at online, I CAN NOT FIND another brooch like this one!!!

Hello I thought I would post this pendant in the hope of finding out more about it as I have no idea how old it is or if it's crystal ? Or some other stone, I don't think it's glass. Any help would be great thanks

Here's a few pieces I've picked up over the last week or so, all from my usual haunts. Three of them have marks and one does not. All are beautiful in their own way marked or not. One is marked on the pin and almost invisible to the naked eye. Two have clear stamped marks. I'm being vague on purpose. Just a little guessing game :) -Mike-

Some extras to show from some of my collection of Costume Jewellery....

The blue, sliver and clear foiled glass one, probably along with the star on my other listing are my favourites today.

But these and my other photos dont capture the true beauty of them...

oh and another thing I meant to mention. Always look at the claspt. If they are used or the old fashioned typed...Gold is very easy to see of its old but some of the silver ones that have been dipped in a shiny alloy, then these can fool...

Alot of the bling type coming out of china is getting better and I suppose if you like it then buy it..

My mother had some lovely costume jewellery as real as prime stones. So thought the burglar who decided to steal my dead mothers pieces. My father was devastated. I've not been able to find many items similar so I decided over the last 12 months to try and get some nice items that the children might like as keepsakes. Even though theyve not been in the family long, they reflect the items I find beautiful.

I happened to be buying some items for a few friends as gigfts recently and noticed that costume seems to be on the up as they say. Getting "genuine" costume, you need an eye for it and fortunately I seem to be quite good at determining a newbie versus a 1960s genuine piece.

You look for names like Coro, Trifari, Christian Dior of course. There were some lovely gold tone or Chinese gold as I know it and Jades from the 1970's around. Japan really did excel at this time with some beautiful pearl and gold sets, very hard to tell too some of the plate to solid. They did a lot of pin type brooches. Then you have your terms that we use in glass like filagree, the pattern usually gold plate, silver or pewter in some cases. I don't use the term rhinestone, thas a little American for me. I love the Borealis glass, especially in pinks and pearls. Have one in the pearl and another in a red to pink...love it..now to get a nice pink Borealis like mum had :)

Anyway most of mine I go on the same basis as glass vases. If it seems to be old and I like it, the price is good then buy it.

Things I watch for. Good settings. If it looks like the genuine article then they've gone to all that effort as if it were a real one then snap it up.

I'm not going to guess periods here nor makers nor regions. But if someone knows in some of my photos, please feel free to comment. I'll do two posts...maybe three...

These items make beautiful gifts. Trouble is, like this weekend I decided to get some for a friend you end up wanting them all for your self...lol ...
enjoy....

I found this pewter necklace in a second hand shop a year ago. Thought it was a bit strange looking. But it looks great with a nordicstyle jumper or a plain dark or gray dress. Today this is one of my favourite necklaces, and it cost me nearly nothing. I think pewter jewelry is often undervalued, though they can be great fun. Don´t think I will ever find out the origin of this.

I don't know anything about this but I like the colour and the length of this romantic necklace. It´s 74 cm (29.13 inches) long. The Pearls are made of plastic beads with different shades. Any ideas on the age of this is welcome.

Hello I thought I would post this brooch in the hope of finding out more about it as I have no idea of age or where it's from it looks a bit deco to me , not sure what the stones are. Any help would be great.Thanks

A Sherman Brooch that I bought recently for the collection that I make for my sister to enjoy. I am building the collection and plan to give her it in the future, luckily she will not come out here again for a while as the roads are treacherous come winter. This piece has a lot of small stones which must have been hard to make. In the middle, raised above, is a small formation in the form of a rose which is impossible to see in the photos.

Years ago I used to use the rhinestones, especially the large ones, to make crafts from them. I would make large flys and bees, and dragonflys from many of the parts. I learned early though from my mistakes and some pieces were more than a shame to break for the sake of a craft. I would have bought the crystal insects from an artist friend but she would only sell one or two pieces to one person. She considered it hoarding otherwise. Luckily she taught me how to make my own so I could have a large web of them. Many were made from chandalier crystals also, which I preferred to use, as they were really plentiful at the time, I could buy a chandalier anywhere it seemed for 5.00.

One of the new collectibles that I decided to get a collection going is Sherman Jewelry. I have a book now on the subject and the purpose of my collection will be to leave it to my sister Melinda. I hope to keep it going for several years until I give her the whole collection. I gave her a bracelet last month. She wore it every day when she was here, but will be off when she goes to work.

A friend I used to know from Toronto quite well used to sell a lot of these items, and I got to see a number of them he picked up at the sales we attended. He sold many through his stores in Toronto and New York and specialized in Jewelry and deco items. He came to many of the large shows in Canada and usually purchased a trunk to take them all back with him. At the time in the 90's, some pieces could be had for a couple dollars.

There is a book now on Sherman Jewellery called The Masterpiece Collection, and it is filled with only the very best pieces and sets. Of course, from the authors you can buy a lot of these pieces, but they want up to 4000 for the best bracelets. Sherman jewellery is highly collectible, especially the rarer pieces and colours. If you’re lucky you can find inexpensive pieces at flea markets or yard sales. If you purchase Sherman jewellery online you’ll probably pay within the hundreds if not thousands. However, Sherman brooches are more common and you can purchase those online anywhere from $30-100 depending.

Gustave Sherman

Gustave Sherman, a former jewellery salesman, set up his first factory in 1947 in Montreal, Canada. Sherman used his knowledge of the jewellery industry, design and techniques to create an amazing signature collection. Sherman costume jewellery was created from 1947 until the early 80s when the factory closed. During that time, his pieces were very popular and widely available at department stores here in Canada such as Eatons. Also he sold through some of the best jewelry companies in Canada such as Birks Jewelry and Peoples.

Many costume jewellery designers utilized rhinestones and cyrstals, but Sherman’s were unique. Sherman was actually the first designer who used top quality Swarovski rhinestones and cystals. You notice this straight off when you look at a Sherman piece, as the sparkling, multi-faceted stones really stand out. They sparkle so much they practically light up a room! Sherman produced a variety of pieces including necklaces, bracelets, brooches and earrings in a variety of colours. Pieces that are commonly found are necklaces, earrings and brooches. Sherman bracelets, on the other hand, are hard to find and much sought after.

The stones themselves can be either clear finish or coated stones called Aurora Borealis stones which seem to give a piece every color gleaming from the stones ! They also made Topaz Jewellery or Alexandrite jewelry. And then came the beads and finally the craze seemed to go by the eighties.

Signed vs. Unsigned
There is a large amount of unsigned pieces. A lot of the jewellery was made in sets, so it is possible to find earrings signed and large pieces such as necklaces and bracelets unsigned. The unsigned pieces are identical quality as to the signed. Also there are 2 signature types to the pieces, depending on years made. Recently I saw an unknowledgable antique dealer trying to say that Eatons sold only the unmarked pieces. Ridiculous ! That is totally false, as some of the best were not marked and they ended up at Jewelry stores also.

Some of the men's jewellery they made such as cufflinks were made of real gold and are marked as such.

This will be the second of my collection to show here. Just received this yesterday. When buying online, even experienced collectors can be misled. As with any other collectible, handling as much as possible is essential to educating yourself.

Usually I prefer larger pieces of jewelry but I kind of liked this one. When I saw it in the store I looked at it but I didn't like the price. Finally, after a few weeks, it was reduced by 50% and bought it.
I believe it to be from the earlier part of the last century. The enamel work is delicate and in almost perfect condition. The base metal looks like brass but it could be something else. I forgot to take a photo of the back but it has a c-claps. I believe that the pin might be from the Edwardian era.

2 pieces of vintage Jewelry a Cross and ? The 2nd amethyst color crystal pendant and stone opens for some reason . Perfume ? About 1 1/2 inches long . Looks India to me and it sterling . The cross is marked as you see on back of 2nd photo also . Just sharing a few pieces I love .

Very light weight. Very vintage. Worn with the right outfit makes a nice vintage accent. I found this piece in a Providence shop sitting in a glass display. Someone else wanted to but it , but I was there first.

This is a necklace and brooch from my personal collection. It was made by "Jomaz". I do not know what this line was called, but it seems very rare. I am also trying to find out what year it from. It looks like a mermaid necklace with beautiful iridescent blue molded glass seashell cabochons and aurora borealis rhinestones. The metal is silvertone.

This necklace is silvertone and has a design that has elements of Art Nouveau and Deco. The links have more of an Art Nouveau look. The metal does seem to have silver in it, although there is no stamp on the metal. It does look there is the number "4" right by the clasp where it closes, but it is very hard to see. The necklace has pyrite/marcasite stones. I wish I knew who made it and was year it was from. Thanks for looking!

I brooch of morfo butterfly reverse handpainted jewelry. On the reverse Alfano, made in Brasil. Much of this kind of brooches made in the 1950s by this maker. A small image of Rio, the capital of Brazil. The brooch is only very small and very hard to find a good clear picture of it. Therefore, I have attached two pictures attached made ??under the microscope. The air and water are made of butterfly wings and the rest is hand painted. Very strange because it must be a terribly precise job have been because it is so small. A lovable little brooch.

Hello I thought I would post this bracelet in the hope of finding out the age as I have no idea and have not seen one before, I can see rock crystal but not sure of the orange stones yet, I have seen the stone before somewhere tho but any help would be great
Thanks

While I haven't posted in almost two weeks, which for me is a record of sorts. I have been picking up costume jewelry here and there to make up for the lack of my usual fare. I'll be starting on my seventh jewelry box when I find another nice one. These will make a great start. The large crescent moon and shooting star brooch is signed by Dorothy Bauer. It's full of Swarovski crystals and is also 23 kt gold plated. Volunteer's provided the blue rhinestone brooch. It is unmarked but is the best piece of costume I've found to date. It has a separate layer of five enameled flowers that float above the beautiful blue stones. I'm sure it's a quality piece but there's not a mark to be found. The "Tommy Bahama" ladies watch was a nice find at Salvation Army along with the Bauer piece. I wasn't familiar with the name, but the back tells it all. Swiss made. Waterproof to 165 ft. Steel A.g. 925 silver case and the original calf skin leather band. A very nice watch to say the least. It isn't running at the moment. The stem just sets the hands when pulled out. It doesn't wind.Probably needs a battery, but there is no mention of the size on the case or that it is even battery operated. The back is held in place by four screws so it is easily removable. All and all a very gratifying day. -Mike-

Years ago I used to use the rhinestones, especially the large ones, to make crafts from them. I would make large flys and bees, and dragonflys from many of the parts. I learned early though from my mistakes and some pieces were more than a shame to break for the sake of a craft. I would have bought the crystal insects from an artist friend but she would only sell one or two pieces to one person. She considered it hoarding otherwise. Luckily she taught me how to make my own so I could have a large web of them. Many were made from chandalier crystals also.

One of the new collectibles that I decided to get a collection going is Sherman Jewelry. I have a book now on the subject and the purpose of my collection will be to leave it to my sister Melinda. I hope to keep it going for several years until I give her the whole collection. I gave her a bracelet last month. She wore it every day when she was here, but will be off when she goes to work.

A friend I used to know from Toronto quite well used to sell a lot of these items, and I got to see a number of them he picked up at the sales we attended. He sold many through his stores in Toronto and New York and specialized in Jewelry and deco items. He came to many of the large shows in Canada and usually purchased a trunk to take them all back with him. At the time in the 90's, some pieces could be had for a couple dollars.

There is a book now on Sherman Jewellery called The Masterpiece Collection, and it is filled with only the very best pieces and sets. Of course, from the authors you can buy a lot of these pieces, but they want up to 4000 for the best bracelets. Sherman jewellery is highly collectible, especially the rarer pieces and colours. If you’re lucky you can find inexpensive pieces at flea markets or yard sales. If you purchase Sherman jewellery online you’ll probably pay within the hundreds if not thousands. However, Sherman brooches are more common and you can purchase those online anywhere from $30-100 depending.

Gustave Sherman

Gustave Sherman, a former jewellery salesman, set up his first factory in 1947 in Montreal, Canada. Sherman used his knowledge of the jewellery industry, design and techniques to create an amazing signature collection. Sherman costume jewellery was created from 1947 until the early 80s when the factory closed. During that time, his pieces were very popular and widely available at department stores here in Canada such as Eatons. Also he sold through some of the best jewelry companies in Canada such as Birks Jewelry and Peoples.

Many costume jewellery designers utilized rhinestones and cyrstals, but Sherman’s were unique. Sherman was actually the first designer who used top quality Swarovski rhinestones and cystals. You notice this straight off when you look at a Sherman piece, as the sparkling, multi-faceted stones really stand out. They sparkle so much they practically light up a room! Sherman produced a variety of pieces including necklaces, bracelets, brooches and earrings in a variety of colours. Pieces that are commonly found are necklaces, earrings and brooches. Sherman bracelets, on the other hand, are hard to find and much sought after.

The stones themselves can be either clear finish or coated stones called Aurora Borealis stones which seem to give a piece every color gleaming from the stones ! They also made Topaz Jewellery or Alexandrite jewelry. And then came the beads and finally the craze seemed to go by the eighties.

Signed vs. Unsigned
There is a large amount of unsigned pieces. A lot of the jewellery was made in sets, so it is possible to find earrings signed and large pieces such as necklaces and bracelets unsigned. The unsigned pieces are identical quality as to the signed. Also there are 2 signature types to the pieces, depending on years made. Recently I saw an unknowledgable antique dealer trying to say that Eatons sold only the unmarked pieces. Ridiculous ! That is totally false, as some of the best were not marked and they ended up at Jewelry stores also.

Some of the men's jewellery they made such as cufflinks were made of real gold and are marked as such.

This will be the first of my collection to show here. Just received this yesterday. The stones in actuality are deep red and not pink as the pictures tend to make them look like. When buying online, even experienced collectors can be misled. As with any other collectible, handling as much as possible is essential to educating yourself.

I came across this pendant in a a box of broken jewellery, I have searched the Internet with only one finding of a lady saying they are very rare. It is believed to be a real cockroach shell it is a blue colour and in Dominican it is known as cueca racha del mar, meaning cockroach of the sea, it is 2&1/4 inches long, has anyone got any information on the history or what it may be worth. Thank you for your time.

Hello I thought I would post this unusual bangle in the faint hope someone will have knowledge about it and can tell me more, as I have never seen one before,I think the coloured part is enamel but it could be Bakelite or some other material, any help would be great.
Thanks

I recently acquired this unsigned piece and was going to sell it with the rest of the costume jewelry, but it slowly sunk in that this may be something else. It looks too fine in many ways.

I am still not confident about my gold testing skills, but it tested 18K, and it appears solid. Together they weigh 23gm. The crown piece is molded, not stamped. The lapiz lazuli is also real. A close look at the filigree shows that it is not cast, but true filigree.

Anyway, I see a lot of Ciner jewelry with lapiz and I know he did fine jewelry before costume...could this be a Ciner fine jewelry piece?

i have the receipt from korvettes in 1962 ....the metal doesn't stick to a magnet ...i don't think it's gold cost 15.00 back then ....the beads seem to be glass ....any idea who made this or value thanks

3 pr of 1950's-70's clip pyramid shape plastic earrings. Thank you Elisabeth and sorry it took so long for me to shoot these. My old Canon finally crapped out and now I have a 2008 Canon (please don't laugh friends - I really hate buying anything brand new.)

I love these earrings they are not too big - 5/8". Perfect with my fake patent leather handbag. What a nice surprise to find in the mail from Sweden! Thank you Elisabeth!!

My red/clear glass bangle is about 1/4" wide. I think it is fairly new but a very beautiful - possibly tourist item from Italy?

Had to move my car out of the yellow zone at sunrise. Anyone else have this task on a Saturday at 7 am? Look at my wake up photo! ....yeah, I carry my little old Canon around a lot....a homeless guy helped me get into the correct beach position for this photo! Priceless!

I received the largest butterfly as a present from one of my students about five years ago. It can be worn as a brooch or a pendant. It is rather attractive but I don't think the quality is good. It is marked 925 and appears to be rhodium plated but the mother of pearl and turquoise accents seemed to be just glued in. To be honest, I would not buy it if I saw it. The little blue butterfly pin is made of brass and has beautiful foil-backed rhinestones. It's too bad that it has a bit of wear on one of its wing:( . The last one is a pendant made of a shell. I have seen similar designs on line but I believe that the ones with the metal rim are bit less common.

Shortly after meeting my partner he introduced me to his aunt by marriage, Muriel.
At that time she would have been well into her 60s and clearly lived a life of little restraint.
I thought her pretty fantastic.
Black black hair, penciled eyebrows, orange lipstick, strong opinions, loud voice..... all in a good way!

In her younger years Muriel had been an avid mineral collector and lapidarist, and then later turned her hand to jewellery making.
When she died no-one was interested in her boxes of "junky" jewellery and I gladly accepted them. So happy!
Her work is sometimes amateurish, but all very creative and with a style that spoke so much of her that I gladly and proudly keep and wear her pieces.

These are four of her brooches, all made from silver and with what I think are chalcedony stones (I'm happy for correction there!) she had collected and polished.

This is one of my favorite costume bracelet. It looks great when worn with a plain t-shirt or a black dress. I find the design rather simple but at the same time creative. There are no markings on the bracelet at all.
I should have chosen a different background for the photo to bring out the colours better:(

I LOVE the pearls encased in the mesh beads in this necklace. It's long and has no clasps and I was told that it is vintage. There are no hallmarks, but the workmanship and the quality looks really good. I would be grateful if anyone can tell me anything they know about this piece. Thanks in advance :)

I recently purchased a beautiful bracelet and now im fearing i over paid. I know nothing about this type of jewelry. It has Sarah Cov. imprinted on the clasp. Its about 7 inches. Could any of you tell me anything about this piece? Thank you so much for your time. Have a great day

Musi Shoe Clips from the 1950's per Murray Simons daughter. I accidently ran across this lady on the internet and her is what she told me about these. I hope it's not too long.
_______________________________________

I am probably the only one left who can give you information
about MUSI. My father's name was Murray Simon. When he started
the company he was looking for an Italian sounding name hence
MUrray SImon Co became MUSI Associates sometime in the 1950s.

I used to work for him in the office after school in the middle
50s. I worked for him full time in the late 50s learning the
business. By that time we had 10 salesmen traveling the country
carrying our line exclusively primarily selling shoe clips.

By 1960 he started another division of MUSI called Battani ltd
manufacturing and selling shoes. By the time my father retired in
the middle 1970s, my husband and I had taken over the business
completely. We closed the business in 2002.

Hello I thought I would post this bracelet which is marked empire made and is very old in the hope someone who knows about it could tell me more please. I am not sure how to describe it or how old it is, it seems to be silver,thanks

Found in a box lot from an auction in 1990. I love Lady Bugs and have several pieces of Lady Bug jewelry. Good sized at 1 1/2" long and 1" wide.
Was surprised to see this was Lee Sands. Their jewelry is almost, not always, made of some types of shells. The company is located in Hawaii.

This old Box that I think may have been used for Jewelry is so nice! The hinges were broken and I have put new ones on it. Very nice wood and beautiful dove tailing. I is 8" wide and stands 5" tall. I am really dumb when it comes to wood, is it Pine? If not would someone please tell me what kind of wood it is please?

This Brooch has had the pin and clasp replaced. It was purchased in Guam and the man was in the Army when he went to Korea during the war and was captured there. He had hidden the pin on his body and kept it during the 3 months he was a POW. He escaped but two weeks later was captured again.

This time he spent a year as a POW before he was released. The entire time he kept this piece for his wife. The pin and clasp got broken off during his time in a Korean prison and he did take it home to his wife who was my Great Aunt. She had the pin and clasp replaced. I will always keep it due to the history.

Jerry De Nicola 1957 - Early 1970s ~ New York City, NY USA -Jerry DeNicola produced jewelry of high quality meant to rival the real thing. As a matter of fact, one of the early costume jewelry lines was called "The Real Thing". Now if that did not state the companies intentions nothing would have! Another line was called "Young America". This mark was first used in 1964. During the 1970s, the company became a part of Capri jewelry and the DeNicola hallmark was not used. Signature Designs/Techniques: Bold, large and colorful jewelry that looks close to "real". Figurals and astrological jewelry as well as Christmas jewelry. According to several costume jewelry books, this jewelry is highly collectable with prices to reflect the demand and not so plentiful supply. ** Information above gleaned from the excellent "Amazing Adornments" Web Site.
This 1 3/4" Brooch is a fine example of the "Real Thing" quality jewelry produced by DeNicola. RER -Loumanal-

This beauty is marked Kramer of New York..it is 3" in length and 1 1/2 at the widest point. Appears to be in excellent condition, the picture does it no justice. All stones are in tact and it looks new. I sure was happy to get this piece for a song and dance...lol

I Bought This Ring From An Online Jewelry Group. I Am Unsure Of The Age And Origin. The Band Is Split At The Bottom, But I Have Worn It Many Times Without Any Problems. It Is Hallmarked On The Outside Of The Band. There Are 2 Separate Stamps. The First Is, .3X10, And The Other Is An X, And A Star With Hammer And Sickle, And 875.

Another 50 Cent Find From A Church Rummage Sale This Weekend. I Believe They Are Silver With A Gold Wash. They Are Hallmarked On Each Post. There Is A Rabbit Head, Facing Left ,With A 3 Beside It. And There Is A Letter G . I Am Unsure Of The Age Or Origin, But They Are Pretty.

I have to confess that I have a thing for cameos. My great aunt is responsible for that. She gave me my first cameo and I cherished it. Unfortunately I lost her cameo many years ago when I lived in an apartment in downtown Toronto. I left the brooch on a sweater I washed in the laundry room downstairs. It must have fallen off during the wash and by the time I noticed it, it was long gone. Well, live and learn.

This cameo is nothing special. It is made of glass and set in a gold-tone backing and also has a gold-tone chain. There are no markings on the cameo. I have seen similar versions on the Internet but I don't remember if those pieces were marked. My guess is that it is 20+ years old.

A little bauble from Salvation Army. No marks to be found. Very sparkly Aurora Borealis crystals on a gold filigree background. Quite elegant and attractive. Slim pickings again today but at least with this I didn't come home empty handed. -Mike-

I really love this one! I bought it at a local estate sale. 28" long with 5 4-sided mirrored filigreed decorations. I am not looking for an appraisal. I would appreciate any insight on it though. Anyone?

Other than it has Oris on and do not know if it is real or a fake.. My gran would buy expensive jewellery also cheap fashion if she liked it.. Know she visited Switzerland in the 80's ????. So any information would be greatfully received.. I love it and this site has just made me want to start collecting

I have to post this one!!
I have had this piece sitting in the safe for years and years. I belonged to my grandmother and beautiful as it is, I have always favoured rather baroque jewelry and so never had it out. After changes in my life, I decided to declutter and tried - in vain - to give this set to a friend of mine.... that having failed I thought I might sell it so started to look for its history and when I finally found it I nearly had a heart attack! This is its history. It is long I am afraid, but enjoy!!!

Traditionally costume jewelry is understood to be made with non-precious metals, faux stones, and faux pearls. Yet many of the most renown names of costume jewelry such as Trifarri, Miriam Haskell, Kenneth Jay Lane to name but a few, were employed themselves or later employed the designers from the great houses such as Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpel, who brought with them the knowledge to create pieces of 'faux' jewelry every bit as sought after as their 'real' counterparts. Today, there is an alliance between many of the Couture houses from around the world and the costume jewelry manufacturers. This relationship continues on the catwalks; often the jewels coming down the runway are one-of-a-kind. Later these designs are simplified and reproduced by mass production for worldwide sales. Trailblazer for this phenomenon in 1868 was a Paris glass worker skilled in the making of reproduction pearls who developed a sophisticated technique for setting and enamelling coloured, cast glass in intricate metal mountings. Augustine Gripoix.

Founded in 1869 Maison Gripoix is the oldest master of the art of ‘Pate de Verre” (poured glass) jewellery, a technique where a mix of molten glass and enamel is poured into gold-dipped frame surrounding each gem, (rather than through the kiln-firing of a paste of ground glass and binding agents) creating semi-precious gems in the most amazing array of colours and tones which hold aspects of enamel, crystal and even the natural shimmer of the mother of pearl. So unique is this process that even today any pieces made in a similar fashion bear the name of being a ‘Gripoix’.

Maison Gripoix’s first claim to fame was the creation of ‘stage necklaces’. Copies of fine Art Nouveau pieces for Sarah Bernhardt in the 1890s, followed by pieces for the world’s first couture house, Charles Worth. In a later collaboration with Paul Poiret, high-society clients commissioned pieces to go with the evening dresses they wore to Sergei Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes. It was then that the term ‘costume jewelry’ was born, setting it apart from imitation jewelry — when its creative value was recognized. The design house, by then led by Suzanne Gripoix, soon began to create looks for numerous couturiers, from Chanel and Worth in the 1920s, to Christian Dior in the 1940s, and Yves St. Laurent and others in the 60’s, 70’s and 1980s, then under the leadership of Suzanne’s daughter Josette.

But it was the lifelong relationship with Chanel that was to define both companies. Together, Coco Chanel and Suzanne Gripoix created memorable pieces together. Iconic designs with inspirations that transcended the materials, becoming much sought-after works of art and adornment. Nothing can replace the vintage allure of these handmade masterpieces. Today, Chanel Gripoix jewelry is amongst the most coveted and collected jewellery in the world. They still have a huge market amongst women who seek the unusual beauty of hand crafted accessories that create a personal statement, rich in understatement and elegance.

This necklace is a rare piece of this costume jewelry history. A piece equally iconic for both its manufacturing history and its provenance. A much illustrated, aquamarine blue ‘Pate de Terre’ floral ‘Camellia’ demi parure set of necklace and fur clip made by Maison Gripoix for Chanel in circa 1932. An example one of the earliest pieces of the collaboration between these two titans of jewellery design. The initial piece for the much grandeur version illustrated in Vogue 1937 and used in Chanel Haute Couture in 1938.

Made of 11 graduating blue ‘Pate de Terre’ individual flower heads, each one joined to the next from links created as part of the actual gilded copper framework of the necklace. Each flower has only a single round enamelled glass bead as a centerpiece. The sheer craftsmanship and simple elegance of this piece is breathtaking.

Like all early Chanel pieces, this necklace is not signed but the fur clip does carry the stamp “Deposer” which roughly translated means patent pending and refers of the patenting of Maison Gripoix’s unique enameling technique which dates this set as having been made in 1930.

PROVENANCE:
This necklace was given to the London Socialite Lady Morvyth Benson, as a ‘thank you’ gift for many pleasant times spent in hers and Constantine Benson’s “big old English house” (ref.Marlene Dietrich: Life and Legend. Page 224). Upon Lady Benson’s death in 1955, the necklace was inherited by her daughter Lady Gillian Tomkins (nee Benson). It has remained in the family ever since.

Not sure how old these celluloid bangles are. They are tiny - 2-1/4" and 2-3/8" opening. I am lucky they fit because I didn't ask. Good lesson - ask! The red w/rhinestones is not bakelite. A fun armload of bracelets that look good w/my other cream & rhinestone bangles from earlier post.

Here's a trick to get tight bangles on and off - put your hand in a plastic grocery bag and slip them on and off. Yes slippery soap works too. Work it gently....you will feel bad if you break an oldie. Gluing them back together doesn't work very often.

I am not sure where these are from so if anyone knows please chime in.

I purchased this Necklace at a yard sale when I was a teenager since I have loved older Jewelry as a young child. I'm not certain what kind of shells they are. If anyone knows I would appreciate any info you can give me!